Special care for kids in Starship hospital lockdown

Starship is a second home 6-year-old Riays Asiata.

She spent the first months of her life at the children’s hospital after she was diagnosed with kidney cancer as a baby. And she has spent most of the coronavirus lockdown there, after a life-saving kidney transplant last month.

Riays is one of the many sick and injured children who have needed care over the lockdown, for

Starship director of nursing Sarah Little said.

‘‘Riays has been in an air ambulance and is one of our national patients. No matter what is happening we are still caring for children like her.’’

Her comments come on International Nurses’ Day today, and as the pandemic puts healthcare workers in the spotlight.

Riays’ mum Nga is grateful for the way Starship nurses have cared for her daughter — some of whom have been there since she was a baby. ‘‘Every time she is here she is just so comfortable,’’ she said. ‘‘The nurses love her; they love her attitude. She is always ready and willing.’’

Riays got her new kidney on April 6, but suffered complications from her 51⁄2 years on a dialysis machine. She is now is a stable condition and expects to go home in a couple of weeks.

Working under the lockdown had meant changes for staff, Little said. ‘‘There has been large amounts of up-skilling. I think staff generally felt anxious and the more it’s gone on we have felt more prepared.

‘‘Staff come to work very willingly. They have been very agile and flexible,’’ she said.

They had have been doing ‘‘tremendous things’’ during the lockdown, including spending a lot of extra time playing with children to give parents a break.

And nurses should still feel appreciated for all their hard work over the lockdown, despite the postponement of International Nurses’ Day celebrations.

‘‘It’s a really lovely celebration, but this year it’s cancelled due to Covid-19.’’

This article is part of Stuff’s partnership supporting the Starship National Air Ambulance appeal — a lifeline for our children when they need it most. Find out more and donate at starship.org.nz/donate