KIDS/NTS (Kids Intensive Care and Decision Support & Neonatal Transfer Service) is a regional service hosted by Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation trust that provides a 24-hour referral, coordination, advice and transport service for critically ill babies and children in the West Midlands.

KIDS

KIDS is an acute transport and advice service for the management of critically ill children of all ages requiring intensive care in the West Midlands. Our consultants provide immediate clinical advice to doctors/nurses who are caring for critically ill children in any of the 20 West Midlands district general hospitals and beyond.

When necessary the KIDS consultant mobilises the transport team to stabilise the child and transport them to paediatric intensive care at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Royal Stoke University Hospital or other destinations. KIDS perform approximately 600-700 transfers every year. KIDS also provide outreach education and training to other hospitals in the region and run Stabilisation of the critically ill child and regional acute paediatric training (RAPT) courses.

NTS

NTS is a dedicated transfer service moving newborn babies between neonatal units in the West Midlands to ensure the right care for the right baby at the right time. We work with the Neonatal Units in South West Midlands (WMNODN) and Staffordshire, Shropshire and Black Country Newborn Networks (SSBCNODN) to provide a safe and timely transfer service for the babies. In addition to acute intensive care and high dependency transports, the NTS service also provide elective back transfers of babies where required.

What happens when the KIDS/NTS team arrives?

The team will introduce themselves to you, their parent or carer, and then receive a full handover from your child’s doctor and nurse. The transport doctor and nurse will assess your child’s current condition and make a plan of action for further treatment. They will explain to you what will happen to your child. Once this plan is started and your child is stable the KIDS/NTS team will transfer your child to a paediatric intensive care unit.

Can I travel with my child in the KIDS/NTS ambulance?

Yes. KIDS/NTS is usually able to take at least one parent in the ambulance. We also have mobile phone charging facilities and complimentary refreshments available for you on board.

 KIDS/NTS service – parent travel information [pdf] 302KB

Contacts

24-hour emergency referral line (for use by doctors and nurses only): 0300 200 1100

Non-urgent office phone: 0121 333 9687

Address: 1 Printing House Street, Birmingham, B4 6DF