The Neonatal Unit (NNU) at Middlemore Hospital provides care predominantly to the Counties Manukau region as well as providing extra capacity at peak demand times for regional and national overflow. The Neonatal Unit provides Intensive Care (Level III) and Special Care (Level II) services and is an integral part of the continuum of services delivered by the Kidz First and Women’s Health Divisions of Counties Manukau District Health Board (CMDHB). The joint General Manager of these two Divisions ensures that integration across both Divisions is achieved.
Thirty six cot spaces are equipped to provide flexible levels of care including negative pressure isolation facilities.
The multidisciplinary team comprises: nurses, from the neonatal nurse specialist to hospital aid range; medical staff at both senior and junior levels; allied health and support staff.
Several underlying principles govern the design and operation of the Unit. These include Baby and Family Centred Care, Continuity of Care, Developmentally Supportive Care, Clinical Practice Improvement, the Multidisciplinary Team, and the teaching role of the Unit.
Families, and in particular parents, play an integral role in the care delivered to neonates. Facilities within the Unit reflect this philosophy through the provision of a range of areas including playroom, family lounge, education room, overnight accommodation for parents with critically ill babies and cot-side seating and visiting spaces.
Supporting staff by ensuring that the work environment contributes to work satisfaction is critical in attracting and retaining adequate numbers of high quality staff. Learning and research contribute to the Unit’s commitment to continually improving clinical practice.
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Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
CPAP is used to help your baby’s breathing by keeping the lungs partially inflated. This helps your baby to breathe easier. It also helps get more oxygen in baby’s blood and stops the lungs collapsing when baby breathes out. CPAP is an extremely safe and effective way to treat babies...
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Jaundice
Your baby may need to be tested or treated for jaundice. Many babies become jaundiced soon after birth. Levels of jaundice we are concerned about depend on how old your baby is or if it was born prematurely...
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Low Blood Sugar
Your baby may be tested or treated for low blood sugar...
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Meconium
Your baby may be in the Neonatal Unit because they were exposed to meconium. Your baby is being treated or tested because of the risk of problems caused by meconium. Meconium is sometimes seen in the waters before the baby is born...
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Possible Infection
Your baby may be tested or treated because of the risk of infection. The usual reason for this check is if your baby has some problem like a temperature, fast breathing, lack of energy or poor feeding...
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Parents are welcome at all times, however because of the flu epidemic and the risk to our neonatal babies, visitors to the Neonatal Unit have been restricted.
- Visiting is now limited to parents, or nominated caregivers, and grandparents only (grandparents are welcome to visit between normal hospital visiting hours of 2:00pm - 8:00pm).
- No more than two people at the cot side will be permitted at any given time.
- Children and extended family will not be allowed entry into the Unit.
Parents and grandparents may be asked to leave the room during ward rounds to give privacy to other babies.
Parents and grandparents must wash their hands and use special hand gel before going into the baby’s room.
Please speak to the person in charge if you wish to make alternative arrangements to the above guidelines.
Cell phones MUST be switched off when coming into the Unit.
DO NOT VISIT if you have a cough, cold, flu, rash or recent diarrhoea.
