https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/wards-and-departments/wards/koala-ward/
Koala Ward
Koala Ward is for children and young people with craniofacial (head and face), neurological (brain) problems, epilepsy or who need surgery to the brain and spine.
Koala Ward has 24 beds, including rooms with their own bathrooms and space for one of your parents to stay with you.
Location
Koala Ward is located in the Morgan Stanley Clinical Building.
Nurses’ station telephone number: 020 7829 8826.
If your child has any additional needs, please call in advance to let us know.
Who you will meet
Koala Ward is mainly run by our team of nurses, who work closely with the doctors to help you get better.
Other staff who work on the ward include psychologists, healthcare assistants, play specialists and housekeeping staff.
The following members of staff will be available to help you during your stay on the ward:
- Matron: Lucy Thomas
- Ward Managers: Melissa Strickland and Katie Thomas
- Housekeeper: Ade Soleye and Wilson Amoah- Owusu
- Play Specialist: Sally Pitt
- Play Worker: Lowri Morris
Conditions we treat
The areas the doctors and nurses on Koala Ward specialise in include; removal of brain and spinal tumours, epilepsy and epilepsy surgery, neuromuscular disorders, hydrocephalus, spinal cord abnormalities, neuropsychiatric disorders and neurovascular disorders.
Specialties
Further information can be found:
Facilities
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.
Mobile phones can be used in the cubicle, the parents’ room and the corridor outside the ward. Using them elsewhere can interfere with our medical equipment, and can also be disruptive to other families. You can use your mobile phone around the hospital but only in designated mobile-friendly zones.
There are also individual telephones beside each bed in the ward‘s cubicles. Visitors are welcome to call you directly on your dedicated phone line. To make outgoing calls, you can buy telephone cards in the hospital shop.
Koala Ward has a well-equipped playroom and a play specialist during the week who organizes activities. The play specialist can provide age appropriate play opportunities and can help to prepare your child for the procedures that he or she will undergo in hospital.
More Information
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.