Access to consultant opinion in PAUs - Basildon Hospital

This page provides a best practice example for standard 6 of Facing the Future: Standards for acute general paediatric services, which outlines how consultant opinion is provided within Basildon Hospital's 24-hour paediatric assessment unit (PAU). PAUs can help to reduce the number of inpatient admissions, support a higher turnover of patients and reduce overall length of stay due to earlier discharge.

Standard 6: Throughout all the hours they are open, paediatric assessment units have access to the opinion of a consultant paediatrician. 

Model

  • Basildon Hospital has a four bed paediatric assessment unit with one treatment room, which is open 24 hours per day, seven days a week. It is co-located with the paediatric emergency department.
  • From Monday to Friday, the consultant of the week covers the PAU between 09:00 and 17:00. An evening consultant is available between 17:00 and 22:00.
  • On weekends, consultants are available on site between 09:00 and 17:00.
  • Registrars cover night shifts at the PAU. Consultants are available on-call for immediate telephone advice or in person within 20 minutes, if required.

Contact for further information

Basildon and Thurrock Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Sanjay Rawal, Consultant Paediatrician and Clinical Lead - sanjay.rawal@btuh.nhs.uk