Kangaroo Ward

Kangaroo Ward is a nine bedded ward caring for children with complex respiratory conditions requiring long-term ventilation via a tracheostomy, those requiring non-invasive ventilation; transitioning from hospital to home. There is a dedicated sleep study bed for diagnostic testing for children with respiratory anomalies.

Our aim is to help patients achieve their full potential medically, developmentally and emotionally. The nursing team on Kangaroo provides varied input of nursing care from both low to high dependency, training and supporting families and community carers/nurses to prepare patients for discharge.

Kangaroo Ward is on Level 2 of the new Premier Inn Clinical Building (PICB), part of the Mittal Children’s Medical Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Ward reception: 020 7405 9200 ext 6172

Nurses’ station: 020 7813 8339

For urgent admissions outside of office hours, please call the switchboard on 020 7405 9200 and ask for the doctor covering the respiratory team.

If your child has any additional needs, please call in advance to let us know. 

Kangaroo Ward is mainly run by our team of nurses, nursing associates and healthcare assistants, who work closely with the doctors to prepare your child for discharge to home or another facility.

Other staffs who work on the ward include discharge coordinator, physiotherapists, pharmacist, social workers, occupational therapists, a play specialist, play worker, dietitians and housekeepers, domestic staffs.

The following members of staff will be available to help you during your stay on the ward:

Matron: Anne MacNiven

Ward Sister: Jodian Pringle

Play Specialist: Lizzie Penn

Respiratory Ventilation Clinical Nurse Specialists: Garry Rendle, Vicky Robinson and Jenny Taylor, Suzanne Gannon and Alice Crawshaw

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Children and young people staying on Kangaroo Ward have various conditions including:

• Long term invasive ventilation via a tracheostomy
• Non-invasive ventilation
• Airway anomalies such as Pierre Robin sequence, Bronchomalacia, Tracheal stenosis
• Lung abnormalities such as chronic lung disease, interstitial lung disease
• Complex respiratory conditions and complex neuro-muscular disorders

You are a valued member of your child ‘s healthcare team and we encourage you to take part in his or her care as much as possible while in hospital.

Meals are not provided for parents, but food and drink can be bought from various places within the hospital and local area. You may want to bring in your own snacks and drinks. Parents are welcome to use the ward kitchen outside of patient mealtimes to prepare these.

For mothers who wish to breastfeed, we provide a dedicated room. We also provide the equipment to ‘express’ breast milk so your child can be fed through a nasogastric tube, if necessary.

For more information about facilities available for parents, family members, visitors and patients in the hospital, including the Chapel and multi-faith room, hospital school, activity centre and information on where you can eat or find facilities such as launderettes, please visit our Facilities A-Z page.

For more information on our Patient and family accommodation, please access this section on our website.