SPACE Pilot

The SPACE Pilot is for people who fit the following eligibility criteria:

✅ Great North Children’s Hospital inpatients age 0-15 years who have a long term complex medical condition. Eligible children will have multiple healthcare professionals involved in their long term follow up.

✅ Living in the Newcastle/Gateshead/North Tyneside/Northumberland area (signposting will be offered to those living further afield).

We also support the families of eligible children, including siblings who have additional unmet non-medical needs.

Who is not eligible?

✅ Children considered too medically unwell for Link Worker referral to be appropriate (e.g. in PICU).

✅Currently going through active social services investigation e.g. Section 47.

✅Acute severe mental health presentation requiring e.g. CRISIS team or other acute psychiatric support.

If you would like to learn more about the project or refer a patient, please email nuth.spacepilot@nhs.net.

Learn more…

This set of videos tell some of the stories from the professionals and clients we have worked with.

This video explains the project from the perspective of one of the families that we've helped.

This video explains the project from the perspective of one of the families that we've helped.

This video explains the project from the perspective of one of the voluntary sector organisations that we've worked with.

This video explains the project from the perspective of some of the professionals that have been involved.

Patient Information

If you are eligible for the project and you would like to join it, please speak to the clinician at the Great North Children’s Hospital who is supporting you. If appropriate, they can then refer you to the project.

Testimonials

Kathryn, parent and SPACE pilot client

“Lauren’s helped us with a lot….things that probably we wouldn’t even think about either…..you’ll have a conversation, and the good thing is you can tell that you’re being listened to because they’ll pick up on stuff I’m not even asking for and go ‘well actually this might help.’”

SPACE Pilot client

“It opened my eyes to what is actually out there. It’s given me a bit more confidence that in the future when things come up that I know there is stuff that I can turn to.”

Paediatric Rheumatologist, Great North Children’s Hospital

“It’s often quite difficult for us to have a good understanding of local services and where and how we signpost them. That’s a massive challenge to us as a service.”

Partners and Funders

Delivery of the project is funded by The Great North Children’s Hospital Foundation (part of the Newcastle Hospitals Charity) and Ways to Wellness.

Evaluation of phase one of the project was part-funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration North East and North Cumbria (NIHR200173). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.

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