What is a Paediatric Emergency Department?
The Starship Paediatric Emergency Department is the only dedicated Children's Emergency Department in New Zealand and we are 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 and under a specialist paediatric service also have acute illness catered for within the Department.
The Department sees approximately 32,000 children and young people per year.
The Department works within a multidisciplinary framework that includes Maori support workers, Pacific Island support workers, play specialists, social workers and clerical staff who work closely with the nursing and medical teams.
The types of illness or injuries treated are varied, with the most common being: asthma, bronchiolitis, gastro-enteritis, poisoning, head injury, croup, convulsions, fractures and minor surgical conditions. Cellulitis – infection of the skin – has become one of the most common reasons for presentation. The service also has regular large epidemics of immunisation-preventable diseases like whooping cough and measles.
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.
Nursing - there are at least 4 staff nurses on duty at all times, with greater numbers during busy periods.
Play Therapy - available in the afternoon and evening.
Clerical - there is 24 hour clerical support.
Support - Kai Atawhai (Maori support workers) and Pacific Island support workers, social workers, interpreters and patient advocates 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 ask your permission before including your child in any training or research activity.
If you prefer not to be involved in this activity it will not affect your treatment in any way.
