Children’s surgery ODN was created to ensure that every child could receive prompt appropriate access to care as close to home a possible.

The Children’s surgery ODN focused initially on general surgery of childhood and built a wonderful working group from nearly every hospital in the network with representation from general surgeons, adult urologists, paediatric surgeons, paediatric urologists, anaesthetics, paediatric nursing, managers and commissioners.

Initially the STPN ODN focused on improving the communication between all the trusts and enabling better communication around the transfer of patients.  Over the last year the ODN worked really hard to restart children’s surgery in every site and enabled access to extra theatre sessions in the private sector. We still monitor the waiting lists and fight for children to have the best possible outcomes.

The working group is a diverse and hard working committee who dedicate a huge amount of time and effort to enhancing the care of children under going surgery.

Presently the ODN is evolving with the development of new separate groups for Paediatric ENT, Orthopaedics and Plastics and focusing on education and better integration with the ICS.