Visiting information
Safety and security
The main entrance doors to Charles Wolfson Ward are locked at all times. Hospital staff enter by means of an ID badge scanner. Patients and visitors ring the doorbell and are spoken to via intercom, to establish who they are and why they are coming into the ward, before they are allowed to enter.
Babies must have ID bands on at all times We advise that all babies remain on the ward at all times. If it is necessary to leave the ward for investigations or treatment, this is arranged by a member of staff.
Most of the observations and care of babies is carried out in the presence of a parent. Sometimes however in may be necessary for staff to take a baby to another area.
Information about patients is kept confidential. Patients and their families are welcome to introduce yourselves to others on the ward but staff will never give out any of details without a patient's express permission. No information about mothers and babies on the ward is given to the public by telephone.
Ward clerks and domestic staff are also based on the ward, with input from pharmacy, procurement and estates to ensure the smooth running and cleanliness of the ward.
Please keep your belongings to a minimum and keep with you anything of any value at all times. For health and safety reasons please inform a member of staff if you wish to leave the ward at any time.
Directions and travel
Directions from main reception
Turn right after you enter through the revolving door, then turn left and walk past the hairdresser on your left, you are now on the main corridor. Turn right, and walk along this corridor, walk past pharmacy and the diabetes centre and on your left you will see a corridor which goes uphill, which leads to the Rosie Hospital. Walk through the double doors, look for signposts for Daphne ward, continue straight on, past Lady Mary ward, past the lifts on your right and then through the next set of double doors (which are open where the CWW on your left is situated, next to Lady Mary ward.
Directions from the Rosie entrance
Take the first stairs on your right to level 2, CWW is the first ward on your right.
Directions from Addenbrooke’s treatment centre (ATC) entrance
Turn left on entry through the revolving door. You will see a corridor on your right that goes uphill, which leads to the Rosie Hospital. Walk through the double doors, look for signposts for Daphne ward, continue straight on, past Lady Mary ward (Lady Mary ward is on your left), past the lifts on your right and then through the next set of double doors (which are open) on your left is Charles Wolfson ward, situated opposite Lady Mary ward.
Car parking
If you are coming to the hospital by car, please remember to bring change to pay for parking. A ‘pay on foot’ car park system operates at Addenbrooke’s. Ticket machines are located in each car park for paying and validating the car park ticket prior to exit.
Parking costs and discounts
You as parents / carers that are resident with your baby on the CWW will be able to obtain discounted parking at the customer service desk in the main hospital car park. Proof of stay may be required.
Visiting hours
We operate an open visiting policy for parents / carers. We request that other visitors and siblings visit between the hours of 14:00 and 19:00 to allow you and your baby time to rest or for teaching / support to be provided as needed. We request only two visitors per bed space please as space is limited. If anyone is unwell, we politely request that they do not visit. In order to prevent the spread of any infections, please ask your visitors to use the hand rub (Spirigel) or wash their hands at the entrance to the ward on arrival and on leaving. There is security access to the ward. All visitors must use the buzzer to gain entry to the ward, please do not allow any other visitors to enter the ward without buzzing. All staff must wear ID badges to have access.
Our aims and what you can expect
- High quality, individualised care to your baby and your family, based on the best available research evidence and local guidelines.
- Value and recognition of you as parents as active partners in planning and providing your baby’s care and empower and support you in this role.
- A safe environment that is welcoming, respectful and supportive.
- A warm and supportive environment, where every person is valued and has the opportunity for personal growth.
The overall aim of the CWW is to empower you as parents / carers with the knowledge and skills needed to prepare you adequately for your discharge home with your baby. The team on the unit are committed to facilitating you to achieve this by:
- Promoting a ‘home from home’ environment which is calm and relaxed.
- Ensuring you are able to room-in with your baby to facilitate bonding.
- Providing a setting that is conducive for you to learn and develop skills required to undertake aspects of care, administer medications and use specific equipment that you may need, whilst being supported by the CWW team.
- Empowering you to make decisions about your baby’s care.
- Enabling a smooth transition from hospital to home.
- Providing you with the time to ask questions, on a one to one basis to provide support, reduce anxieties and increase parental confidence.
- High quality, individualised care to your baby and your family, based on the best available research evidence and local guidelines.
- Value and recognition of you as parents as active partners in planning and providing your baby’s care and empower and support you in this role.
- A safe environment that is welcoming, respectful and supportive.
- A warm and supportive environment, where every person is valued and has the opportunity for personal growth.
Routes of admission to the ward and bed allocation
You may have transferred from Lady Mary ward, the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the emergency department, or one of the children’s wards. On admission to the ward you will be allocated a nurse, who will show you around the ward. In order to admit you to the ward, your nurse will ask you questions regarding your baby to determine the plan of care. Allocation of bed spaces are based on the clinical need of the patients; these decisions are made by the nurse in charge and are based on the best interests of all the patients on the ward.
Your bed space will enable you to be able to sleep next to your baby. Occasionally it may be necessary to move you to another bed space in order to accommodate the changing clinical requirements of the ward. Please note that we can only accommodate one carer / parent next to the bed space, to sleep on the ward, however, if necessary there may be alternative accommodation available on site. Please speak to your nurse if you feel that this is required and your nurse will check availability.
On occasions it may be necessary for your baby to be transferred from CWW, to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) if your baby is requiring additional support or investigations.
Discharge
Parents / carers should be able to provide transport on discharge home, and only in exceptional circumstances will hospital transport be booked for discharge.
For babies discharged from maternity services, the health visitor and midwife are informed when discharge is planned / undertaken in order to ensure a smooth transition from hospital to community. For other babies, appropriate discharge planning will be made and discussed with parents prior to discharge.
Food and drink
No breakfast trolley is supplied on the ward; however, there are cereals, tea and coffee available in the parent’s room for parents / carers who are resident overnight. Through out the day sandwiches and snacks are provided in the parents room.
A hot meal trolley arrives at 12pm and is for the resident Mother’s only.
If these do not appear to be readily available, please speak to a staff member who will have this rectified. We ask all parents to help keep bed spaces tidy and wash up all utensils after use.
Hot drinks
Hot drinks are available on the ward. However, these must be contained in a cup with a lid. Lidded cups can be brought in from home, or are available to purchase on the ward. Hot drinks not in a lidded container can only be drunk in the parent’s room.
Please note: all liquid and food spillages must be cleared up immediately and a member of staff informed.
Ward facilities
We are committed to treating patients with privacy and dignity in a safe, clean and comfortable environment.
- Showers are available if required.
- Parent's room available for visitors, no children are permitted in this room and no overnight stays allowed.
- Patientline - beside card phone plus free TV / war payphones.
Clothing and laundry
You are responsible for laundering your own clothes. Please bring in nappies and clothing for your baby, plus your own toiletries if you plan to stay with your baby.
Medications / drug rounds
For health and safety reasons please do not interrupt nursing staff when they are administering medications, unless it is absolutely essential.
Doctor’s ward rounds
The neonatal team liaise with the nursing team on CWW on a regular basis. Ward rounds are often after 09:00 during the week. Weekend times may vary. If you have not seen a doctor and / or wish to speak to one, please tell your allocated nurse who can arrange this.
About the ward
The ward is a 12 bedded Unit, open 24 hours, seven days a week, which caters for babies greater or equal to 34 weeks gestation at birth to their 1st birthday, It enables one parent / carer to room-in with their baby. Babies may be admitted to the CWW for a variety of different reasons including; feeding issues, difficulty maintaining temperature, jaundice, or if they require intravenous antibiotic therapy, scan under sedation, bowel washouts, IV fluids or Safeguarding assessments / referrals.
The overall aim of the CWW is to empower parents / carers with the knowledge and skills to prepare them adequately for their discharge home with their baby and support children’s services with low acuity admissions of under 1 year of age.