Starship Paediatric Neurology : Healthpoint

Starship Child Health, Central Auckland

Contact Details

General Enquiries:
(09) 3074949
Outpatient Appointments:
(09) 638 0400 or 0800 PATIENT 0800 728 436 or scheduling@adhb.govt.nz
Emergency Department:
Open 24 hours / 7 days, Phone (09) 307 4902
GP/External Specialist Help Desk:
(09) 3072800

Street Address

2 Park Road
Grafton
Auckland 1023

Postal Address

Starship Child Health
Private Bag 92 024
Auckland Mail Centre
Auckland 1142
New Zealand

Description

This webpage provides guidance for outpatient referrals to the Starship Paediatric Neurology Service. Our specialty provides services for Auckland, regional and national DHBs. Referrals are accepted from paediatricians or other medical or surgical specialists. If you are a member of the public, please discuss your concerns with your family doctor or paediatrician.

Between neurology appointments, patients should consult their family doctor or paediatrician. For renewal of prescriptions please contact your family doctor.

Where are we based?
The service and our inpatient care are based at Starship Children’s Hospital. There are outpatient clinics in Starship Hospital and at regional centres including Whangārei, Point Chevalier (Waitemata), Manukau SuperClinic (Counties Manukau), Tauranga, Hamilton, Rotorua, Hastings (Hawkes Bay), Gisborne and New Plymouth (Taranaki).

What is Paediatric Neurology?
Paediatric neurology is the branch of medicine that diagnoses and manages babies, children and teenagers who have disorders of the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles.

It involves looking after patients who are acutely unwell and require inpatient treatment (often in an intensive care setting), outpatient review of neurological problems and longer-term management of patients with chronic disorders.

Referral Expectations

Preparing for your child's hospital or daystay admission - click here

Your child's outpatient appointment - click here

What should you expect at your child’s first visit?
During a visit with a paediatric neurologist, the doctor will take a full history of your child’s problem which will include details of your pregnancy and the birth of your child and their developmental progress. The doctor will speak to you (the parent) and your child if he or she is able to understand.

The doctor will do a physical examination for your child’s neurological system and other relevant physical findings. After a thorough examination, the next steps will be discussed. The doctor may request additional tests to provide a diagnosis or to aid management. The doctor may prescribe medication and will arrange to see your child again if necessary. They will also send a letter to your child’s paediatrician and/or family doctor, with their findings and suggestions for future management. Please bring a list of your questions with you when your child sees the neurologist so that you have the opportunity to address all your concerns.

Procedures / Treatments

About your child's EEG (Electroencephalogram)

About your child's neuroimaging (CT and MRI)

Nerve conduction studies (NCS)

Electromyography (EMG)

Lumbar puncture (LP)

Epilepsy

Headache / migraines

Neuromuscular disorders

Travel Directions

Coming to the Starship Hospital and Auckland City Hospital site
If you are coming to the Starship Hospital site, the main entrance is on Park Road. The bus stop is located near this Park Road entrance. From here follow the signs to Starship or, if you are coming by car, follow the signs to Carpark B (Building 33 on the adjacent map). If you are coming to the Children's Emergency Department, follow the 'Adult and Children's Emergency' signs.

Click here for a map of the Auckland City Hospital complex, showing the Starship building and parking.

Parking

There is a Wilsons carpark on the Auckland Hospital site (now called Carpark B), near the back entrance to Starship, that you can pay to park in. If you are bringing your child to Starship, then this is the closest carpark. For more detailed information including car parking charges, see the Wilsons Parking website.

Carpark A is also available for the Auckland City Hospital site. This carpark is located close to the entrance of the old Auckland Hospital building (Support building) and is primarily for adult services.

Parking is limited and it is recommended that you take public transport or are dropped off and collected if possible.

Drop-off Parking
There are a number of 2 minute drop-off parks outside the Level Three entrance to Starship.

Disability Parking
There are disability car parks available in Carparks A and B. There are also two outside the Level Three drop-off point at Starship.

In addition, there are a number of disability car parks for the Auckland Hospital site. When driving into the main hospital entrance, take the second turn on the right towards adult cancer and blood services. The disability car parks are on the right hand side of the road.

Other

Our paediatric neurology nurse specialist is Mrs Barbara Woods.

Website

starship.org.nz/patients-and-families