Interim nursery to open at Waitakere Hospital

7 July 2004

Interim nursery to open at Waitakere Hospital

In a move aimed at addressing the Auckland region’s shortage in neonatal cots Waitakere Hospital is opening a 4-cot neonatal nursery on July 26.

The Jade Ward Nursery will operate as an interim nursery until a full 12-cot Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) opens in July 2005.

The unit will provide intermediate neonatal care for babies generally 36 weeks gestation or older.

In addition to the four cots some babies may be placed with their mothers on the maternity ward.

The Jade Ward Nursery and subsequent SCBU will be led by Donna Neal [Nurse Manager SCBU and Paediatrics], who opened North Shore Hospital’s SCBU in October last year.

Mrs Neal says the unit will potentially allow some West Auckland babies requiring help to stay put and receive care locally.

“However, some babies will still require transfer to National Women’s Hospital or North Shore Hospital,” says Mrs Neal.

The nursery will be located within the Jade Ward of Waitakere Maternity.

ENDS

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