St John & St Elizabeth Hospital has launched a dedicated elective paediatric day surgery service, significantly increasing access to high-quality surgical care for children and young people in London.
The newly established service caters to patients aged three and above, offering procedures across a range of specialties including ENT, ophthalmology, maxillofacial, and plastic surgery, with plans to expand into additional disciplines in due course.
Simon James, CEO at St John & St Elizabeth Hospital, said: “We’re proud to open a dedicated paediatric day surgery service that directly responds to the needs of our local community, ensuring young people can receive expert care in a child-friendly setting.
“We already see over 20,000 children through our urgent care centre and outpatient services each year, and this new service will expand our capacity to provide a wide range of care – from consultations to day surgery – under one roof. This service represents our continued commitment to offering safe, outstanding quality care to local families within our community.”
St John & St Elizabeth Hospital has launched a dedicated elective paediatric day surgery service
Designed with young patients and their families in mind, the service is staffed by a specialist team of paediatric nurses, consultants, and clinical experts.
Modern theatres and bespoke recovery areas have been created specifically to meet the needs of children undergoing surgery, ensuring both clinical excellence and a supportive, age-appropriate environment.
A key feature of the development is a 10-bed dedicated children’s ward, offering private en-suite rooms enhanced with custom murals by local artist Hannah Sykes.
The space has been thoughtfully curated to promote calm, comfort, and dignity for children and young people throughout their hospital journey.
The newly established service caters to patients aged three and above, offering procedures across a range of specialties
Kate Lewis, Advanced Paediatric Clinical Practitioner and Head of Paediatrics at the hospital, commented: “Bringing paediatric day surgery to St John & St Elizabeth Hospital felt like the natural next step in our journey. We’ve grown from a small paediatric outpatient department in a single consulting room to a thriving clinic with our own dedicated space and a specialist team.
“The opening of our new day surgery service will allow children and young people to receive expert care in a welcoming environment, close to home and in a space designed just for them. Everything – from diagnostics to recovery – is centred around the needs of young patients and their families.”
The expansion into paediatric surgical services comes as demand continues to grow for timely, high-quality paediatric care within the private healthcare sector in London.
The expansion into paediatric surgical services comes as demand continues to grow
The hospital’s investment ensures that families have an alternative option for elective day procedures, delivered within a dedicated facility.
In addition, all profits generated by the new service will support St John’s Hospice, the on-site charity providing free, specialist palliative care to over 4,000 patients and families each year. While based within St John & St Elizabeth Hospital, the hospice extends its services throughout Westminster, Brent, Camden, Hammersmith & Fulham, Islington, and Kensington & Chelsea.
Its comprehensive offering includes inpatient care, community-based services, bereavement support, and social welfare services, alongside London’s only 24/7 Hospice@Home programme and dedicated ambulance provision.
The introduction of paediatric day surgery services marks a significant milestone for St John & St Elizabeth Hospital as it continues to expand and modernise its facilities, delivering enhanced care pathways for families across the capital.
Top image: St John & St Elizabeth Hospital's new paediatric day surgery unit