Davis – More NICU cots for vulnerable newborns

  · Additional cots funded by 2014/15 Budget about to begin operation
· Caring for premature babies with complex illnesses
· Victorian Coalition Government building a healthier Victoria

Minister for Health David Davis has announced the location of five additional cots for Victoria’s neonatal intensive care system, which looks after our sickest and most vulnerable newborns.

Mr Davis said the Victorian Coalition Government’s commitment will take the capacity of Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) to 100 cots across the four units.

“The Royal Children’s Hospital and Monash Medical Centre will each receive two new NICU cots and the Royal Women’s Hospital will receive one new NICU cot,” Mr Davis said.

“All three health services will have one new NICU cot operational from 1 July.

“Monash Medical Centre and the Royal Children’s Hospital will ensure that their second NICU cot is operational by 1 September this year once appropriately qualified staff have been recruited.”

This year’s State Budget included capital funding of $4 million to boost NICU and adult Intensive Care Unit beds and to expand retrieval services.
The Coalition Government is also providing hospitals with $5.6 million per year to operate these five new cots.

Mr Davis said Victoria’s hospital and maternity services have been significantly increased under the Coalition Government.

“This latest increase means the Coalition Government has added 16 additional neonatal intensive care unit cots across the system since coming into office. By contrast, Labor did not fund any additional NICU capacity during its last year of government,” Mr Davis said.

“The Coalition Government is focused on providing specialist medical equipment for Victoria’s neonatal intensive care system, which looks after our sickest and most vulnerable babies.

“The additional five NICU respiratory-supported beds provide sophisticated technology and medical management to care for premature babies with complex illnesses.

“As well as newborns, this specialist equipment supports babies after surgery, infants requiring long-term ventilation and those suffering from seasonal illnesses such as bronchitis.

“Our additional funding for this area is part of the targeted expansion of the critical care capacity in the Victorian public hospital acute service system.”

Victoria’s NICUs, which are located at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Monash Medical Centre, the Royal Women’s Hospital and Mercy Hospital for Women, provide care to the most vulnerable premature babies needing highly specialised treatment.

In addition to the NICU cots there are a range of Special Care Nursery cots in 25 public hospitals as well as some private hospitals across the state.

Together with the Paediatric Infant Perinatal Emergency Retrieval Service (PIPER), this ensures Victoria’s sickest babies can be cared for.