Please click for information on the Child Health Centre

Ward 2 is a 22-bed general paediatric ward providing care for medical, orthopaedic and surgical patients. It also has a 4-bed paediatric acute assessment unit (AAU). The ward cares for children from birth through to <16 years of age. VISION STATEMENT To work in partnership to empower whanau for healthy tamariki, improving inequalities by reducing barriers. Our mission is to ensure: All whanau experience a safe journey while in hospital, are connected to primary care providers, are educated and empowered to maintain whanau health, are informed and assisted to access support available. The patients are mainly admitted via the Emergency Department or the Paediatric Acute Assessment Unit. Referrals to the ward are accepted from GPs, Midwives, Public Health Nurses and other community based health agencies. AAU is only open during the winter months. Ward 2 play specialists are available Monday to Friday to support children during their stay in hospital. The ward also has a well-resourced playroom. The paediatricians working within the service hold outpatient clinics based at the Child Health Centre in Whangarei and at Bay of Islands, Kaitaia and Dargaville hospitals. The day to day running of the ward is supported by a clinical nurse manager, associate clinical nurse manager and a clinical nurse educator; Monday to Friday from 8.00am-4.30pm. The nursing team are rostered over three shifts and are supported by a multi-disciplinary team including: ward clerks, play specialists, social workers, dietitians, speech language therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and takawaenga (Māori health liaison). Chaplains are also available on request. The ward has the facilities for one caregiver to stay while their child is in hospital. The caregiver is allocated a lay z boy chair to sleep on and is provided with three meals per day. The caregiver is encouraged to be with their child during their hospital stay as this helps provide a more positive experience for the child. The team work closely with the Child Health Community Nursing team and other health agencies. When a child is discharged the team may refer them to a paediatric community nurse for follow up in their own home. At times a child may be asked to return for follow up in the ward or Acute Assessment Unit. Location From 7 May 2024 the Children's Ward will be located on level one in the Te Kotuku Building, on Hospital Road, at the Whangarei Hospital Campus. Ph: 09 430 4100 ext 8151 Postal Address: Children's Ward, Te Kotuku Building, Private Bag 9742, Whangarei 0148.

The Special Care Baby Unit is a 10 cot unit which cares for unwell term babies or premature babies > 32 weeks gestation. VISION STATEMENT To provide the highest standard of care ensuring the best start possible for all babies. Creating partnerships with families through education, excellent communication and strong advocacy for babies and their whanau. Babies < 32 weeks gestation will be transferred to Auckland prior to or after being born. Babies can be admitted from delivery suite, operating theatre, following home birth or from the district hospitals. SCBU is supported by a designated paediatrician; the nursing team work rostered 8 or 12 hour shifts. The day to day running is supported by a clinical nurse manager, associate clinical nurse manager and a clinical nurse educator. The SCBU team does retrieval by road or by air from the district hospitals as the need arises. The team also repatriates babies which have previously transferred to Auckland. Babies are either placed on a heat table, in an incubator or a heated or normal cot. Towards discharge from SCBU mums usually room in with their baby until they are comfortable with all required cares. Location: Level 1, Whangarei Hospital Ph: 09 430 4100 ext 8425

Te Māhuri - Child Health Connection Service Manaakitia te māhuri he tupuna kei roto “Nurture and take care of the future that grows within”