MDHB News

Child Health

Welcome to Child Health Services at MidCentral DHB. At Palmerston North Hospital we have 22 inpatient paediatric beds and 17 neonatal Level 2A inpatient beds. The service also has access to social work, lacation consultancy services, and a family violence intervention programme.

Child Health Services is for people who have been referred by their GP, Emergency Department and Specialists.

PlunketLine is a toll-free telephone advice service available to all families, whānau and caregivers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 0800 933 922.

Kids Health is a website that has lots of useful information and advice for parents about child health, check it out!

'Kids Health Newsletter' is a great source of information about what we are doing right now in the community supporting Child Health.

For further information about Child Health at MidCentral DHB refer to the document 'The Determinants of Health for Children and Young People in MidCentral'.

Child Development

Child development is a therapy based service.
Children's Assessment Unit (CAU)

The Children's Assessment Unit is a service for children up to the age of 15 years and functions as an acute assessment unit for your unwell child.
Children's Clinic

MidCentral Health's children's outpatient clinic sees medical patients at Palmerston North, Horowhenua, Dannevirke, and Tararua. Tertiary specialists also hold clinics at Palmerston North Hospital at regular intervals.
Children's Ward

Children up to the age of 15 years are cared for in MidCentral Health's children's ward. These include both medical and surgical patients.
Family Violence

MidCentral Health is dedicated to the prevention of family violence.It was one of the first District Health Boards to appoint a dedicated family violence intervention project manager to assist staff working with patients living with violence.
Neonatal Unit

The Neonatal Unit has 17 inpatient beds at Palmerston North Hospital and provides neonatal intensive and special care to preterm and unwell full term babies.
Sexual Assault and Treatment Service

This service addresses the acute and non-acute medical (including injury), psychological, and forensic (where indicated) requirements of the victim.

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

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