Paediatric services

Nelson Marlborough Health has paediatric services delivered in both base hospitals.

Wairau and Nelson inpatient wards cater for all paediatric admissions, booked and acute, medical and surgical, including day stay, from 0 years to 15 years.

In both hospitals, children in these units are cared for by the admitting consultant from any of the secondary care specialities. Children under the care of paediatricians make up approximately half of admissions to these units.

Visiting

Paediatric care is family centred, so parents and primary care-givers can visit 24 hours a day. Other friends and family may visit between 8am to 8pm.

Family support

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to stay with their child, as it is an important part of the child’s recovery to have a familiar member of the family present and helping to care for them.

Some fold-down beds and recliner chairs are available for one parent or caregiver to sleep beside their child’s bed.

Occasionally the ward becomes extremely busy and may run out of beds or chairs. When this happens the nurses will make every attempt to make parents as comfortable as possible.

All meals are supplied for the child. A breakfast and evening meal for one boarder.

Nelson 

Nelson Paediatric Department is a 12 bed facility providing acute and elective paediatric medical and surgical inpatient care.

It is located on Level 2 along from the hospital cafeteria. The Inpatient service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The facility has space for resident parents, as well as play and recreation facilities.

Paediatric Outpatient and Paediatric Outreach Nursing Service are located on Braemar campus across the road from the Nelson Hospital. The outpatient service is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. 

Access to services

Patients are referred to the Paediatric Department by general practitioners, senior consultants, the Emergency Department, and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).

A select number of children with complex or chronic medical problems have direct access to care as directed by their paediatrician.

All patients are assessed by a registered nurse on arrival in the Paediatric Department and then seen by a doctor.

Wairau

Wairau Hospital Paediatric Department is a 5 bed, 3 cot inpatient facility for neonatal and paediatric patients including acute and elective medical and surgical inpatient care. The ward has a co-located Outpatient Department for children not needing admission and for ambulatory assessments. The Paediatric Nursing Outreach service and outpatient nurses are based here.

 The Paediatric Department is located in the hospital beside the maternity service.The Inpatient service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.The outpatient service is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. The outreach nursing service is available from 9am to 3pm.

Access to services

Patients are referred to the Paediatric Department by GPs, senior consultants, the Emergency Department, CAMHS, midwives and community health or education leaders.

 A select number of children with complex or chronic medical problems have direct access to care as directed by their paediatrician.

 All patients are assessed by a registered nurse on arrival in the Paediatric Department and then seen by a doctor.

Staffing

The Paediatric Department is staffed by senior medical staff, including two paediatricians, with house surgeon support. Nelson based paediatrician support with on call and weekend cover. Specialty clinics by Nelson paediatricians and tertiary specialists occur regularly. Other secondary care consultants admit patients to the inpatient facility.

There is reception cover near children’s outpatients and maternity outpatients during office hours.

Marlborough Children's Team - Nga Pukenga Tamariki

“Our mokopuna are our greatest treasure, so the Marlborough community is committed to supporting our most vulnerable children and their families” -   Dr Lorraine Eade, Marlborough Children’s Team Director

Paediatric Outreach Nursing Service

Referrals to this service are made via secondary or tertiary specialists only.  The paediatric outreach nursing service provides an extension of hospital based care to family-centred care in the home.

For instance, care and support for:

  • short-term surgical follow-up
  • chronic illnesses
  • disabilities
  • complex medication requirements

The service is provided by experienced paediatric nurses with strong links to primary healthcare providers, community groups, and tertiary centres.

Paediatric outreach clinics

Paediatric sub-specialists not employed directly by Nelson Marlborough Health deliver tertiary paediatric health services.

Children benefit from these services through outreach clinics that occur in the region or by travelling to a tertiary hospital to receive care.

 Both Nelson and Wairau Hospitals provide outpatient clinic rooms where children and their families can see a secondary care consultant for a wide range of child and youth conditions. These clinics operate between 9am-5 pm.

Outreach clinics occur in Nelson or Marlborough for:

  • Clinical Genetics
  • Cystic Fibrosis
  • Paediatric Cardiology
  • Paediatric Gastroenterology
  • Paediatric Nephrology
  • Paediatric Neurology
  • Paediatric Oncology
  • Paediatric Rheumatology
  • Paediatric Surgery
  • Paediatric Urology

Nelson Marlborough Health receives tertiary services from Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland DHBs.