Job Fairs For Hospital’s Paediatric Unit

MEDIA RELEASE
04 APRIL 2005

Paediatrician Meia Schmidt-Uili is passionate about his local community. Of Samoan-German descent, and the father of a 14-month-old boy, he is incredibly proud that Waitakere is about to get its own Paediatric Unit at its local hospital.

A new 15-bed Paediatric Short Stay Unit and 12-bed Special Care Baby Unit, is due to open in July. The Paediatric Short Stay Unit, will provide care for children aged from 0 to their 15th birthday with medical problems such as asthma, croup and gastroenteritis who may be able to return home in 24 hours. The Special Care baby Unit will provide total care for newborn infants as young as 32 weeks and weighing 1500g. The service will at last provide the local health care services and support that so many West Auckland families need.

“The aim of this Paediatric unit is to make a positive and enduring impact on the health of our children and families. A critical role of our service is to work together with our community including the GPs, homecare nurses, Maori and Pacific health care providers to ensure continual care and support for our children and families once they are well enough to return home.”

The small team he’s working with to help plan the new services already represent the multi-cultural diversity of the West, and he hopes the two Job Fairs planned for next week [SUBS: April 9th + April 11th] will build on that mix.

Paediatric Charge Nurse Manager Alan Gibson, who hails from Ireland, says the new unit will be the first of it’s kind in New Zealand.

“We’ve looked at studies which have shown most children in Auckland go to hospital for a six to eight hour period, and then go home. Our unit will have a 24-hour observation unit and the emphasis will be getting children back to their families and whanau as soon as possible.”

The unit will provide services for children with mild to moderate illness. They will be assessed according to a triage system developed for New Zealand and Australia. Those who require a higher level of care will either be transferred from the hospital’s emergency department to Starship Children’s Hospital.

Paediatric nurse educator Tara Fuller adds to the multi-cultural mix with her South African heritage.

She will provide educational support to the paediatric nursing staff, an important role in ensuring the workforce are kept up-to-date with all the requirements of the profession.

“We’re looking for around 25 nurses with paediatric experience. We’re emphaisising nurse-led care where the nurses will be encouraged to take on a more advanced role with nurse assessment and nurse diagnosis. This means they will be involved in doing blood tests and investigations, and developing a plan of working collaboratively with the paediatricians.”

Kiwi Donna Neal is project manager for the new units, and has managed North Shore Hospital Special Care Baby Unit.

The Waitakere SCBU will care for babies born at 32 weeks gestation, or weighing 1500gms or more.

“It’s been so exciting starting to bring our team together and seeing the development of the services come together. We have a lot of work ahead of us with the recruitment process, but it will be a big day for West when the units finally open.”

If you’re interested in applying for a paediatric nursing role contact Waitakere Hospital’s Candidate Manager Colleen Bermingham on Ph 839 0000 extn 6868, or attend one of the Job Fairs.

Job Fair Dates: Saturday, April 9, 9.00am - 1.00pm and Monday, April 11, 2.00pm - 7.00pm.
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