Daisy Hill paediatric theatres back in business

Due to a downturn in activity and redeployment of staff during the pandemic, the team had been providing a limited service for the most urgent patients from the hospital’s general theatres.

Since April, they have been back providing two full days of dental surgery for children who have been waiting for extractions under general anaesthetic from Daisy Hill paediatric theatres.

The team of anaesthetists, theatre staff, schedulers and community dentists and nurses have been working diligently to treat as many children as possible and have significantly reduced the number of children waiting to be seen from 600 in September 2023 to approximately 210 children at present.

Sarah Foy, Clinical Director, Community Dental Service explains: “Whilst we have always made every effort to treat the most severe cases as quickly as possible, it has been very disappointing to have so many children and young people waiting for a considerable period of time, and often in discomfort, for routine extractions.

“Waiting for treatment can be stressful for young people and their families. The reopening of the paediatric theatres at Daisy Hill has been a significant and positive development for our service with the whole team, from our schedulers, nurses and dentists who are determined to make the most of every available theatre slot. Our schedulers keep in close contact with families and have a list of those willing to take a last-minute cancellation, to make sure that we can help as many children as possible.

“This increase in surgery has also been a real boost to the training, development and confidence of all staff, helping newly recruited nurses to complete their competency requirements and exposing other nursing, theatre and anaesthetic colleagues to an excellent paediatric theatre experience.”

Feedback from children and parents has been very positive.

Daisy Hill Hospital has been appointed as a regional elective overnight stay centre for patients requiring planned surgeries.

Welcoming this latest development, Director of Surgery and Clinical Services for the Southern Trust, Cathrine Reid said: “We are absolutely delighted at this progress of delivering elective surgery in the purpose-built paediatric theatres on the Daisy Hill site and that young people and children are able to receive their dental extractions in our state of the art, dedicated child friendly theatre environment again.

"The team are now hoping to soon start using the paediatric theatre more at Daisy Hill for planned elective surgery, to benefit more children from across the Southern area.”