Overview
The High Dependency Unit at RACH is a four-bedded unit which caters for patients from birth to sixteen years requiring high dependency care under all medical and surgical specialities. Patients are admitted to our department on both an emergency and planned basis and stay for short or longer periods depending on their condition and the treatment they require.
We are a stand-alone high dependency unit as there is no children’s intensive care facility in Aberdeen. We therefore work very closely with the children’s intensive care departments in both Glasgow and Edinburgh Children’s Hospital. On occasion patients may require transfer to these areas, which will be undertaken by ScotSTAR (Scottish Specialist Transport and Retrieval- a division of the Scottish Ambulance Service).
Due to the dependency of the children we care for, our staffing ratio is one nurse to two patients. This makes us the only area within RACH that has more trained members of staff than support staff.
Due to the complex care provided in HDU and the additional space that this requires, it is not possible to provide parent/carer beds at each patient’s bedside (as offered in other clinical areas) however thanks to recent fundraising for The Archie Foundation the Unit now boasts a comfortable overnight option at each bed space. In addition to this, HDU is located directly opposite The Archie Family Centre, which means parents/carers can make use of a home-from-home facility while still remaining very close to their child.
Click here to read about one family’s experience at HDU.
Visiting
We have an open visiting policy for parents/carers. HDU boasts a Family Lounge, offering parents and visitors a quiet space while still close to their child.
For all other visitors we request only two visitors at a patient’s bedside at any given time.
Please remember that HDU cares for critically unwell children and as such it may not be appropriate for children to visit. All visiting is at the discretion of the nurse in charge and will vary depending on activity on the Unit at the time.
Contact Details
Should you need to contact HDU, you can call the nurses station on either 01224 550208 or 01224 550209. Please note, however, that this is a very busy area and patient care will always come first so for general enquiries please call switchboard – 0345 456 6000.
