Royal Preston

Ward 8 (Children’s Unit) is based on the 1st floor at Royal Preston Hospital. Enter through the main entrance, walking straight down the long corridor to the lift and stairs. Take the lift or stairs to floor 1. Please ensure that you contact the Paediatric Assessment Unit before coming to the hospital, this will ensure nursing and medical staff are expecting the arrival of your child.

Visiting
Parents and guardians are welcome on the unit and can visit all day. Sibling can visit for a short period if you wish. Please inform the ward staff during your stay regarding additional visitors. 1 parent/guardian is welcome to stay with their child overnight, and a fold out bed chair will be provided. The team request that visitors are respectful of other inpatients.

Travelling by car
If you are travelling by car, take junction 32 of the M6. Turn left off the slip-road onto Garstang Road (A6), heading towards Preston. At the second major set of traffic lights turn left into Sharoe Green Lane. The main entrance to Royal Preston Hospital is 200 yards on the right.

Parking
The Trust operates a ticketless system and uses automated number plate recognition (ANPR). Parking is free for the parent of a sick child in hospital overnight. Please speak to the nursing staff about your free car park pass (1 per family).

Visitors travelling by public transport
Bus services serve The Royal Preston Hospital via routes through the local areas. The following link will direct you to the available bus routes to the hospital: https://www.lancsteachinghospitals.nhs.uk/transport

Visitors travelling by train
The closest train station is Preston station. For train information use the National Rail website http://www.nationalrail.co.uk

We are a 30 bedded ward nursing children under a range of specialities. We are a designated shared care unit for children with cancer who are receiving care and treatment from Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (RMCH). This means that your child can have some of their care here with us on ward 8 and still remain closer to home. We link closely with RMCH, and follow the same guidelines for care, we will update the doctors there regularly on your child’s condition.

On the unit we have a play area and sensory room, Play leaders work Monday – Friday and offer support to all our children. We also have a school on site, parents kitchen facilities and shower rooms. Routinely meals are not provided for parent/carer however we have some items for you to help yourself to in the parents room. If you are having difficulty to access food whilst you are with us please speak to your nurse.

The hospital has both a café and restaurant . There is also a shop at the entrance, there are local shops across from the main doors of the hospital.

Within Ward 8 there is a parent’s room, where you can make hot drinks and take a little time out. There is also a fridge and microwave available for use.

There are vending machines outside the main doors to the ward, next to the lifts and on the ground floor.

For health and safety reasons, we ask that hot drinks are not brought onto the ward unless it is in a cup with a lid.

The hospital has free public Wi-Fi which you are welcome to use (just click on Public WiFi and log in).

The isolation rooms on Ward 8 have a TV (however these are not always available, due to the ward demands). The trust has a Chaplaincy service. This includes religious leaders who can support you during your stay. There is a Chaplin and Muslim prayer room at Royal Preston Hospital.