SDHB Children’s Ward and Assessment Unit
Located on the ground floor of Southland Hospital, Kew Road, Invercargill, the Children’s Ward is a general paediatric ward providing care for medical, orthopaedic and surgical patients from across Southland.
The ward cares for children from birth to their 16th birthday.
Visiting Hours: Parents are welcome at any time and other visitors from 2-8pm.
Siblings must be supervised by an adult.
The Paediatric Acute Assessment Unit (PAAU) is a 4- bed unit where children are assessed and observed for up to four hours prior to admission to the Children’s Ward or discharged home and is located within the Children’s Ward. (PAAU open weekdays 10am -10pm).
As a parent or caregiver you should expect to spend at least two to four hours in the PAAU while staff carry out:
■ Nursing assessment
and recordings
■ Medical examinations
■ Ongoing observations
■ Initiation of treatment
■ Regular medical review
■ Home care advice
To effect the safe transition from Children’s Ward to home, an Outreach Nursing service is also available and provided when clinically indicated.
The Southland Children’s Ward is a 13-bed ward that cares for children who are mainly admitted via the Emergency Department or the Paediatric Acute Assessment Unit (PAAU).
Referrals to the ward are also accepted from GP’S, Midwives, Well Child Nurses and other community-based health agencies.
The Paediatric Outreach Team comprises of experienced Paediatric Nurses providing generalist and specialist support, education and skilled nursing care to babies, children, young people and their families in the home and in the community.
The team is based in the Children’s Ward at Southland Hospital and maintains close links with hospital and community based services, providing clinical advice and support to other health professionals in order to promote holistic, family centered care in the wider Southland community.
Family-centred care is encouraged and therefore it is expected that parents/caregivers stay with their child and participate in their care.
How the Children’s Ward Works
Children’s Ward Nursing: The Children’s Ward has a team of nursing staff who provide 24-hour care.
The children’s ward aims to provide continuity of staff who attend to your child; however this may not always be possible.
It is also the service’s aim to work with parents/caregivers in partnership to meet the childs individual needs.
Doctors’ Rounds: Doctors’ rounds are carried out daily, however nurses can be asked for times.
Timing is not always precise, as urgent work can cause delays in doctors’ rounds.