Child Health
The child health service comprises neonatal intensive and special care, paediatric inpatient and outpatient care, children’s acute assessment unit, specialist neonatal and paediatric nursing home-care, child developmental assessment and therapy, and a community paediatric and child health team.
Child health services operate with 22 inpatient paediatric beds and 17 neonatal Level 2A inpatient beds at Palmerston North Hospital.
The service also has access to social work, lacation consultancy services, and a family violence intervention programme.
More About the Child Health Service
The main patient population is from the 160,000 residents of MidCentral DHB, with a small number from the Whanganui DHB area.
Neonatal Unit is level 2A with 17 “cots” providing intensive care, including ventilatory support, to around 350 premature and unwell term babies each year. Children’s Ward has 22 beds for all medical and surgical sub-specialty problems, including High Dependency care, for 2000 children each year.
Children’s Acute Assessment Unit provides medical and nursing assessment and short stay to give access to expertise and avoid admission for 900 children each year. Nursing Home-care Service for neonates and children with complex problems maintains specialist care at home with their families.
Outpatient Clinics provide secondary and tertiary care for 1200 new referrals and 3000 follow up appointments at Palmerston North Hospital, Dannevirke, Levin, Pahiatua and Otaki. Child Development Service provides coordinated assessment and disability related therapy services in the community.
Community Paediatric and Child Health Services strengthen and improve the continuum of care for all children in MidCentral DHB, including targeted programmes, care and protection, high complex needs, child and sexual abuse, specific community clinics, and children in care.
Contact Child Health
Print this Page