Development of a paediatric short-stay observation and assessment unit.

In recent years children's emergency admissions have risen by 18%. In 2011 a team at a city district general hospital in England recognised that children were being admitted to the general children's ward and often only staying for short periods of time. After a review of the service a plan was put forward for the development of a paediatric short-stay observation and assessment unit. The unit has led to a reduction in ward admissions and offered opportunities for children's nurses to extend their roles in assessment and treatment. This article explores the planning, delivery and audit of this unit and offers an exemplar for other trusts considering a similar change to service delivery.