Children’s Assessment Unit – GP Referral Guidance

Children’s Assessment Unit – GP Referral Guidance

The Children’s Assessment Unit (CAU) at Bedford Hospital is open 24 hours a day, seeing acutely unwell children and babies.

Children can be referred here from the Children’s Emergency Department or from their GP.

If you are a GP wishing to make an acute referral, please call Bedford Hospital switchboard (01234 355122) and ask for the: Paediatric Registrar Referral Phone on ext. 6809 or bleep 605.

Please bear in mind that the call may not be answered immediately as the Registrar may already be with another patient.

If you cannot get through via these numbers, contact CAU direct on 01234 355122 ext. 4099 to make your referral.

If you consistently find you are unable to refer, please escalate to the Paediatric Matron on ext. 6191 or the CAU manager ext. 6367 if either of these routes fail.

Please avoid sending the child into the unit without making the appropriate referral first, as this potentially places the child at risk.