OUR DEPARTMENTS

Paediatrics & Special Care Baby Unit

What we do

The care of children, infants, and neonates.

The hospital provides a separate Children’s A&E unit and Outpatients department and any child admitted to the hospital is treated on Acorn Children’s Unit.

This looks after babies, children and young people up to the age of 16 years. Within the unit, there are 27 beds on the acute admissions ward and a 10 bedded day surgical unit. There is also a Medical Day Unit for children who do not need to stay overnight.

Parents are encouraged to stay with their children, however due to limited space we ask that only one parent stays. A bed will be provided next to your child’s bed.

Resident parents will have access to the parents sitting room which has tea and coffee making facilities, a fridge for storing food and drinks and a microwave to warm up food.

The Hospital and Home Teaching Service has a school room on the Acorn Children's Unit which has qualified teachers for school age children and hospital play specialists for pre-school age children. Children are able to participate in school activities if they are well enough.

The Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) provides care for newborn babies who require medical treatment. This may be because they have been born early or because they have been born unwell.

Babies that are born very early are usually transferred from Whipps Cross University Hospital to a specialist centre at the Royal London Hospital or the Homerton Hospital.

The Paediatric team includes seven consultants:

  • Dr. Maria O’Callaghan, Paediatric Consultant
    Specialty interest in Respiratory Medicine and Infectious Disease
  • Dr. Nic Wilson, Paediatric Consultant
    Specialty interest in Neonatology
  • Dr Ann Duthie, Paediatric Consultant
    Specialty interest in Gastroenterology
  • Dr Simon Whitmarsh, Paediatric Consultant
    Specialty interest in Haematology Oncology - Ambulatory lead
  • Dr Kausik Banerjee, Paediatric Consultant
    Specialty interest in Endocrinology Diabetes – adolescent lead
  • Dr. John Ho, Paediatric Consultant
    Specialty interest in Neonatology/ undergraduate education
  • Dr Caroline Sullivan, Paediatric Consultant
    Specialty interest in Neonatology

How to contact us

  • Acorn ward

020 8535 6990
or Fax: 020 8535 6685
  • Special Care Baby Unit

020 8535 6513
  • Children’s Outpatients

020 8539 5522 ext: 6525

Where to find us

  • Acorn Ward
    Is located at Junction 12 on the lower ground floor in the Green Zone. Nearest access is from Margaret Road.

  • Special Care Baby Unit
    Is located on the first floor of the maternity building in the Purple Zone.

  • Children’s Outpatient Department
    Is next to the main outpatients department in the Yellow Zone. Access is from Hospital Road.

How to find us

For more information on how to find these locations or how to get the hospital please look under our 'Where to find us section'.

Opening times

  • Acorn ward

Anytime of day or night for Parents
10am - 8pm for other visitors, including siblings
  • Special Care Baby Unit

Anytime of day or night for Parents
3pm - 4.30pm and 6.00pm - 8.30pm for other visitors

Please do not bring any children to visit that are unwell, have any sort of rash or have been in contact with any infectious diseases in the last 7 days.

  • Children’s Outpatients clinics

9am - 5pm
Monday to Friday

How to get treatment

To get an appointment with one of the Paediatric Consultants you will need to get a referral from your GP (General Practitioner).

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