Surgery in Children
The Thames Valley & Wessex Surgery in Children (SiC) Operational Delivery Network (ODN) is one of 10 Surgery in Children ODNs across England.
The Surgery in Children ODNs were created following an NHS England review of paediatric critical care and children’s surgery in 2019 which recognised that a new, networked model of care was required to support the long-term sustainability of these services, manage patient pathways and to ensure that children and young people are treated by experienced teams with the correct support and infrastructure.
The role of Surgery in Children ODNs has evolved significantly since this time and NHS England’s Surgery in Children Clinical Network’s service specification provides further detail.
The scope of Surgery in Children ODNs includes all children and young people from 0-18 years in England that require specialist or non-specialist surgery, whether that is planned or as an emergency. Surgical specialities include, but are not limited to:
- Cleft lip and Palate
- Craniofacial
- Ear, Nose & Throat
- Gynaecology
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Paediatric Surgery (General Surgery)
- Plastic Surgery (not burns)
- Specialist Dentistry
- Trauma & Orthopaedic (not Major Trauma)
- Urology
Surgery in Children ODNs also cover Anaesthesia in Children, Paediatric Imaging and Interventional Radiology as these services are integral to patients on a surgical pathway.
NB: Cardiac Surgery, Neurosurgery and Ophthalmology are not included in the scope of Surgery in Children ODNs. In Thames Valley and Wessex, Paediatric Spinal Surgery is covered by the South East Spinal Surgery Network.
