Sky has two sections
Sky intensive care unit (PICU)
PICU is also called the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, or PICU for short. It's a 10 bed unit and provides intensive care for critically ill children from south east England and beyond.
Sky cardiology unit
Sky cardiology is a unit with 18 beds providing care for patients undergoing cardiac management which includes surgery and interventions.
Directions
From main reception, walk towards the back of the building. Turn left after the helter skelter, then left again before you reach the glass corridor. Pass through the double doors and take the 'big' lift up to the sixth floor.
Information for visitors
- Parents/primary carers can visit their child at any time
- No more than one visitor per bed at once
- Please switch your mobile phone to silent – If you need to use it, please do so in the parents’ room
- Always wash your hands when you enter or leave the ward to reduce the risk of infection. Removing your coat and outdoor clothing when you first arrive also helps prevent the spread of infection
- If you have been in contact with someone who has chicken pox or measles, speak to the nurse in charge before entering the ward. Some of the children are very sensitive to infections.
- Please speak to your nurse about visiting if you have symptoms of cold or flu, or have diarrhoea or vomiting before entering the hopsital.
Parents’ accommodation
Sky PICU
We do our best to accommodate up to two parents/carers as comfortably as possible whilst your child is on Sky Ward. However there are a limited number of parent's rooms available which are allocated on a day by day basis and cannot be reserved in advance.
If we cannot accommodate you in one of these, there are other places near the hospital where you can stay – see the accommodation page for more information.
Sky cardiology
There is a pull down bed at each bedspace for one parent to stay overnight.
Parents’ room
We have a parent's room in which you can relax. This room is shared between Sky PICU and Sky Cardiology so used by families from both areas. It has tea and coffee making facilities and fridge in which you can store your own food. Please label any food with your child’s name and bed number. There is also a television and parents information screen. This room is for parents only so we ask that no patients are taken in there.
Meal times
For children who are able to eat, we provide cereal and toast for breakfast, and a hot meal or light snack for lunch and dinner.
If your child is unable to eat during their stay, they are reviewed by the dietician and are fed a milk feed either by bottle or by a special feeding tube.
Sky PICU parents/carers
Meal vouchers are provided for breastfeeding mothers (or those expressing their milk) which you can use at any of the hospital's catering facilities.
Sky cardiology parents carers
All breastfeeding mothers will be provided breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Your nurse
At the start of each shift, you child will be allocated a nurse who will introduce themselves to you. This is generally the best person to ask if you need help, but please don’t hesitate to ask another member of staff for assistance.
Your doctor or advanced nurse practitioner (ANP)
The doctors/ANP involved in your child's care do two ward rounds a day, usually in the morning and afternoon. This is a good time to ask questions.