My child is under 5

If you're a resident of Enfield, our health visitors are there to support you and your child as they begin to grow.

What we offer

Our health visitors will be in touch with you at various stages of your pregnancy and after your baby is born. This includes: 

• During your pregnancy at 28-32 weeks 
• Between 10-14 day of baby’s birth
• Six-eight weeks after your baby's birth
• When your child turns one. This will be a developmental review by a health visitor or early years practitioner
• When your child turns two. This will be a developmental review by a health visitor or early years practitioner 
• School Readiness

Our health visitors are part of our 0-19 service covering Enfield, and work in four teams. Each team is based at a health centre in the local community.

Your health visitor can help you with anything you are concerned about:

• your health
• your child's health
• your family's health
• postnatal depression
• and all the usual things that you might want help and advice on with a new baby, including feeding, sleeping, crying, minor ailments, and when to see a doctor.

Your health visitor will also monitor your baby's development, and weigh and measure your baby. Your health visitor will record visits in your child's personal health record book - this may be your 'red book', or an electronic version, called an 'e-red book'.

Your health visitor will also record their name and contact details in your red book, so you know how to contact them and when you can see them, and how to get help if they are not available.

Every family with a child 0-5 years that lives in Enfield will be allocated health visitor. Anyone can refer to our service, GP, Midwife, schools, parents can refer themselves by contacting your Health Visiting Team by phone requesting a home visit or telephone contact.

Well baby clinics

Our Health visitors run healthy Child Clinic's, which parents/carers can attend without an appointment, where you can come and speak to a health visitor and get support/advise around the health and wellbeing of you and your baby.

The clinics are run on a drop in basis, running in your local community site, family hubs ,  in libraries , youth centres, children centres.  (you will find this information in the front of your Red Book).

You can attend any healthy Child Clinic in the borough which is best suited to the time and location to you.

 

Contact our health visitors

• Moorfieds: 020 3988 7300
• Forest Green: 020 3988 7300
• Highlands: 020 3988 7300
• Bowes: 020 3988 7300

At North Mid we have two children’s inpatient wards. They are based on Level 1 and level 2 of the Tower. Our wards have well established links to other specialist centres and we provide acute and elective care across a range of clinical specialities including oncology, haematology, urology, ophthalmology and orthopaedics.

Starlight Ward

Our Starlight Ward is a 16 bedded ward looking after both short and longer stay children aged 0-16. The ward will provide care for all patients including those admitted with conditions such as diabetes, haematology, gastroenterology, and asthma and allergy conditions. One cubicle on the ward will remain empty at all times in order to accommodate oncology patients requiring admission to the unit in a timely manner should this be required.

For parents whose children are staying on Starlight Ward, you can download an information leaflet here: Starlight Ward Parent Information Leaflet.docx [docx] 349KB

Paediatric Assessment Unit

Our Paediatric Assessment unit is a brand new 11 bedded unit attached to Paediatric Emergency Department. It is a 24-hour facility for the assessment and treatment of children of our community who require urgent care, as well as bedding up to 6 inpatients as required.  The service provides fast track access for the review of Oncology and Haematology patients and has well established links with tertiary care ​centres in the surrounding area and boroughs.

Our team

The nurses and doctors on the wards are supported by specialist nurses, therapies, practice development team and children safeguarding team. There are also other members of the multi professional team members who provide family centred care to all children and family. They also build warm and supportive relationships with children and family ensuring that they are kept informed of progress and of care and treatment plans at all times

On the wards you will see lots of different members of staff. For example, Domestics, Porters, Hostesses, Nurses, Doctors, Play Specialists, Play Workers, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Dieticians, Speech and Language Therapists and the Paediatric Liaison Team. Everyone on the ward is there to help make your stay as easy as possible. You will get your own bed to sleep in and cupboard to keep all your things safe. Someone can also say with you when you are in hospital and will get their own bed to sleep on beside you. 

The play team can provide you with toys, activities and entertainment during your inpatient stay. 

If you want to go online on your phone, laptop or tablet, there’s free WiFi at North Mid. Ask one of the members of staff to help you get set up.

Our Children's Outpatients Department is located on floor -1 in the main building. When you arrive for your appointment first you must sign in at reception. The receptionist will ask for your name and who you are here to see. You can help them out by bringing your clinic letter with you so they can book you in quicker. 

The clinics can get really busy you may be asked to wait before your appointment. It’s a good idea to bring something to do with you so you don’t get too bored waiting. Why not bring your headphones along with you so you can watch the TV. There is a play area in all the clinics with toys and activities to do. You can also speak to the play team who can provide extra activities. They are there to help you with your clinic appointment and you can speak to them if you are feeling worried. Children come into hospital for all different reasons.

Our team

You may meet some of these members of staff in outpatients: Nurses, Doctors, Play Specialists, Play Workers, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Dieticians, Speech and Language Therapists, Phlebotomists and Clinical Psychologists.

Paediatric Day Assessment Unit (PDAU) is based on level -1 within Children’s Outpatients. Children and young people come here for all different reasons.

When you arrive for your appointment, you will first meet with the receptionist who will ask for your name and your date of birth.  You can help them by bringing your appointment letter with you so they can book you in quicker. 

You might be asked to take a seat in the waiting room and wait for your name to be called. Once your bed is ready for you, the nurse will bring you to the ward where you will be weighed and have your temperature and blood pressure taken. The nurse will also give you a tour of the ward and show you to your bed for the day.  

Your nurse will then ask you and your parent/carer more questions about your previous medical history. You will then meet with the doctor who will be performing your procedure. This doctor will make sure to answer any questions that you have about your procedure.  

If you are having an operation you will also meet with the anaesthetist. The anaesthetist is the doctor who will give you the medicine to put you to sleep for the procedure. The anaesthetist will try to give two options to go to sleep and help you choose the best one for you. 

You may meet a play specialist. The play specialist is there to help you understand what will happen while you are on day care ward. He/she can answer any questions that you have about being in the hospital. The play specialist can also bring you DVDs, board games, arts and craft activities or video games to keep you busy while you are waiting for your procedure. Please remember to bring important things with you that help reduce your worries and boredom because play resources are limited and shared between all patients in the hospital. There are also sometimes special entertainers that come to visit and provide different shows for the patients!

If you want to go online on your phone, laptop or tablet, there’s free WiFi at North Middlesex Hospital. You can ask a member of staff to help you get online.

How the NHS works for young people

It can be confusing to know what you can do as a young person using the NHS. Download this poster for more information: How the NHS works [pdf] 385KB

What can I bring with me to hospital? 

• Some spare clothes and pyjamas 
• Toiletries 
• Something to remind you of home, friends and family e.g your favourite pillow, blanket and photos
• Toys to help if you get bored

Who can stay with me in hospital?

• Your parent/carer can stay with you in hospital. There is a bed next to yours where one person can stay. 

Visiting times

• Visiting times vary depending on which ward you are on. Please ask a member of staff when you arrive. 

Is there WiFi

• If you want to go online on your phone or tablet, there’s free WiFi at North Middlesex Hospital. You can ask a member of staff to help you get online.