Children's Airways Support Team Therapy

The Children's Airway Support Team (CAST)  provides specialised support in the community, for children needing ventilation to either enhance or sustain life. 

The CAST service enables children under the age of 18, who need help to breathe with the aid of a ventilator to be cared for in their own home and to lead as normal a life as possible within the family environment.

The team provides respite for families with ventilated children, help the child to access education, enable the child to reach their full potential and support the child and family to help prevent family breakdown. 

The service is delivered mainly in the family home or place of education (dependant on age and level of care provided).  The team also work closely with physiotherapy, education, hospice and acute services acting as a link between services as required.

The team operate a 24 hour service 7 days per week and are based at Hanford Health Centre and can be contacted on 0300 123 0988.

Referral is usually via Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) or Care Co-ordination at University Hospital of North Staffordshire, for children, living in North Staffordshire. 

They also provide in-house training for all staff and other professionals involved in the care of ventilated children, including the voluntary sector and education