All staff working in Dirleton ward are trained to care for babies, children and young people, aiming to provide a high standard of family-centred care that looks after every child’s physical, emotional, cultural and spiritual needs.

Clinical Nurse Manager

Karen Williamson

Deputy Charge Nurse

Angie Hood

Staff Nurse

Gillian McCafferty

Staff Nurse

Laura Fraser

Play Team

Jennifer Gibb

Ward Clerk

Kerry McKillop

Nurse Specialists

Nurses with specialist experience in treating and managing conditions work on Dirleton ward, as well as other places around the hospital, such as wards or outpatient clinics. These include:

• Gastrointestinal (or GI) which includes conditions affecting the digestive system and bowel.
• Rheumatology: conditions affecting joints such as arthritis.
• Allergies, including allergy testing
• Endocrine: systems of the body that produce hormones
• Cystic Fibrosis

We are a medical day ward, which means that children usually visit for a few hours and return home again. If a child needs to stay longer, including overnight for any reason, they would be admitted to a different ward in the hospital. We provide treatment for children with different conditions, including illnesses that affect their joints (known as rheumatology) such as juvenile arthritis, and GI patients with Crohn’s disease or conditions affecting their bowel and digestive system. We also carry out tests, for example, allergy testing and endocrine (hormone) testing. Sometimes, patients might be asked to come to Dirleton Ward by other doctors and teams, as part of follow-up investigations or after a visit to the Emergency Department. There is a mix of single rooms and 4-bed bays in the ward. There are toilet facilities including accessible toilets, and some outdoor space to play or get some fresh air. You might even hear the helicopter landing on the roof above! Dirleton Ward can be a busy place, with lots of tests going on at the same time, and different staff arriving to meet patients throughout the day. Sometimes there might be some waiting time between having a test or getting results and speaking to the doctors and nurses to plan what happens next. There is a playroom with toys, games, books and other activities to keep the boredom away. The treatment each child receives will be different and will depend on why they have been asked to come to the ward. If you have any questions about your visit, please ask a team member who will always do their best to help.

There can be some waiting time as tests and treatment take place. Play equipment, art supplies, toys, games and other fun things are available to help distract and entertain children and young people. There is a large, comfortable playroom near the reception desk, with seating, art tables and plenty of toys. Families are also welcome to bring some things from home, like a tablet, special toy or favourite blanket. Wifi is available in the hospital – ask for a free code to connect your device. Our play specialists can help to prepare for treatment and understand different tests or equipment. They can help prepare for procedures, answer questions, talk about any worries and help you feel more relaxed. You will find our play specialists around the ward, or ask one of the nursing team if you’d like to talk to them before a visit to Dirleton ward.