Resident Doctors are on strike from 7 - 13 April. Please continue to attend appointments at the hospital unless you are contacted directly to rearrange. Our hospitals will be busy, but we are still here to provide emergency care when you need it.

Children’s Medicine

The department of Children’s Medicine (General Paediatrics) is often the first point of care for a child or young person with a medical problem.

Welcome to the Children’s Medicine Department

We have a friendly and professional team consisting of consultants, nurses, junior doctors and advance nurse practitioners working along side other allied health professionals who aim to ensure that your child gets the best quality care possible. We see children and young people up to the age of 16 years in out-patient clinics and on the Children’s Assessment and Treatment (CAT) Unit and wards.

What we do

We provide same-day urgent care for unwell children who are referred in from primary care settings such as GPs and other health professionals. We also look after children and young people that need to be admitted to the hospital. We provide a large number of outpatient clinics which include rapid access clinics for urgent referrals, general paediatric clinics for routine referrals and a variety of other specialist clinics. 

Coming to Hospital

We know that coming to hospital can be a frightening experience and we try and make it as comfortable as possible for all our children and families. Parents are encouraged to stay overnight on the wards, if needed, and there are refreshment trolleys and vending machines available for snacks and drinks. We have a great team of play specialists on hand to offer entertainment ideas and also help children feel more relaxed if they need any tests or procedures.

When children are first referred by their GP or from the Emergency Department they are seen on our Children’s Assessment and Treatment (CAT) Unit at our Leeds General Infirmary site. If children need investigations during their stay they may be seen in the Paediatric Urgent Management Area (PUMA).

Children and young people that need to stay longer in hospital are then usually cared for on the in-patient wards L38, L40 and L30. L38 is next to the CAT Unit and Wards L30 and L40 are near-by.

Our wards are child-friendly and attractive, and have playrooms that children can use if appropriate. Children will be seen by a Paediatric Consultant within the first 24 hours and reviewed by the medical team every day.

Coming to Clinic

Out-patients are seen in the dedicated Children’s clinic, which is on B floor of Martin Wing at our Leeds General Infirmary site. There are lots of activities, such as Nintendo Wii, in the waiting area to keep everyone entertained.

When you first arrive in clinic you will need to let the reception team know that you are there and then a member of staff will call you to check your child’s height and weight. Some children and young people will also need other tests such as a blood pressure or to collect a urine specimen at that time. It can get a bit noisy in the waiting area so listen carefully for your doctor to then call you to be seen!

We offer a wide range of General Paediatric clinics, including a Rapid Access Clinic for children who need to be seen urgently or who have been on the Paediatric ward.

Contact us

We are unable to give out medical advice over the phone other than in scheduled virtual appointments.  If you have concerns please contact your General Practitioner, the NHS 111 service or in an emergency attend the Emergency Department at the Leeds General Infirmary. Please note that the only Emergency Department that sees children in Leeds is at our Leeds General Infirmary site.

For further contact details about other wards please visit the Wards and visiting times at Leeds Children’s Hospital page.

Consultant Medical Team

The department of Children’s Medicine employs a wealth of experience in our nursing, medical and allied health professionals. We work closely with our play specialists, physiotherapists, dieticians, occupational therapists, specialist nurses and pharmacists to ensure great care.

  • Avanish Tantry – Consultant in General Paediatrics (with special interest in paediatric nephrology) and Clinical Lead and CAT Lead 
  • Chris Smith – Consultant in General Paediatrics (with special interest in eating disorders)
  • Rags Thethy – Consultant in General Paediatrics (with special interest in eating disorders) 
  • Gerry O’Hare – Consultant in General Paediatrics (with special interest in haemangioma) 
  • Jonathan Darling – Consultant in General Paediatrics (with special interest in enuresis) and designated doctor for safeguarding  
  • Sean O’Riordan – Consultant in General Paediatrics (with expertise in infectious diseases and special interest in immunology) 
  • Rochelle Wilder – Consultant in General Paediatrics and named doctor for safeguarding 
  • Leah Boullier – Consultant in General Paediatrics and named doctor for safeguarding 
  • Vijay Acharya – Consultant in General Paediatrics and undergraduate lead  
  • Liz Day – Consultant in General Paediatrics and undergraduate lead  
  • Liz Evans – Consultant in General Paediatrics and Deputy Clinical Director    
  • Kerry Jeavons – Consultant in General Paediatrics (with special interest in epilepsy) and Leeds Children’s Hospital Quality Lead 
  • George Fonfe – Consultant in General Paediatrics (with special interest in epilepsy) 
  • Emma McQueen – Consultant in General Paediatrics and governance lead (with special interest in asthma)
  • Jon Chan – Consultant in General Paediatrics and junior doctor rota coordinator   
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