Elective General Surgery of Childhood
We provide a well-established consultant-led general paediatric surgical service operating in close collaboration with the paediatricians, anaesthetists with paediatric interest, nurse specialists etc. and have close links with tertiary units at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge and Great Ormond Street Hospital, London.
We see children referred with groin or abdominal wall hernia, undescended testis, foreskin problems, lumps and bumps as well those needing insertion (or change) of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tubes etc. for children and young people from birth to 16 years.
Children are booked onto a surgical list by the consultant surgeon and then scheduled for a pre-assessment clinic appointment prior to their scheduled surgery which is performed under general anaesthesia with majority of children going home the same day.
The hospital paediatric department provides a comprehensive paediatric service. Children and young people can access our service through their GP, health visitor, midwife or accident and emergency.
Preferred GP referral process:
Letter
Clinic Type: General Paedatric Surgery
Clinic Days/Times: Wednesday 13.30-17.00
Links to tertiary centres: Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge & Great Ormond Street Hospital, London
To families of all our patients, we wanted to give a reminder that sadly, at both Bedford and the Luton & Dunstable Hospital, we are still unable to allow any visitors on site, unless there are exceptional circumstances, for example in maternity or children’s departments, or for those patients who are receiving palliative treatment at the end of their lives, on a case-by-case basis.
At Bedford we will call one designated member of family every day between 1.30pm and 4.30pm with a daily phone update. Those who miss a call back during this time and are concerned can contact the helpline on 01234 730500.
For the Luton & Dunstable, we are offering a dedicated Next of Kin helpline for family members who want to check up on their loved ones – please nominate one family member to call 01582 718884 between 8am and 6pm.
