What is a Children’s Emergency Department?
The Starship Children’s Emergency Department is the only dedicated Emergency Department in New Zealand designed to focus exclusively on the needs of children.
We specialise in meeting the needs of acutely ill or injured children and young people. The children and young people seen within the Department, range from birth to their fifteenth birthday from the Auckland region. Some young people over fifteen who are under a specialist paediatric service and also have an acute illness are cared for within the Department.
Children are assessed when they arrive in the Department and the most seriously unwell and injured are seen first.
The Department sees approximately 40,000 children and young people per year.
The Department works within a multidisciplinary framework that includes Māori support workers, Pacific Island support workers, play specialists, social workers and clerical staff who work closely with the nursing and medical teams.
Your child may receive medical care from a clinician either a Doctor or a Nurse Practitioner.
Staff
Medical - there is at least one registrar (trainee specialist) and one house officer in the Department at all times. There is a specialist in the Department from 8am to midnight, 7 days a week, and on-call outside these hours.
Nurse Practitioners - there are Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Specialists in the Department. Nurse Practitioners have undergone advanced training to enable them to manage the care of children presenting with a wide variety of conditions including those with complex medical needs.
Nursing – there are at least five staff nurses on duty at all times, with greater numbers during busy periods.
Clerical - there is 24 hour clerical support.
Support - Kai Atawhai (Māori support workers) and Pacific Island support workers, social workers, play specialists, interpreters are available.
Research
The Children's Emergency Department is actively involved in training and research. Research is conducted in order to improve the medical care of children and young people. We will always discuss with you about any research activity your child could be involved in. Your child’s care will not be affected in any way if you prefer not to be involved in this activity.