What is the service?
The Northern Neonatal Unit is an 18-bed high level nursery that cares for premature and unwell infants from as young as 31 weeks (nine weeks premature). We have expert neonatologists and paediatricians who are dedicated to looking after these vulnerable newborns, and have designated 24 hour specialist care. These babies may be born at Northern Hospital, or may be transferred to us from other hospitals in Victoria to bring families closer to their homes.
Our vision is to provide a high level of medical and nursing care using a family-centred model of care to work with families to overcome the health issues of their baby, reuniting them with their parents, and making transition from hospital to home easier. Watch the video below to learn more.
What can I expect from the service?
The Neonatal Unit aims to be a friendly, nurturing, considerate and cohesive place where newborns can receive expert care and new parents are supported during this challenging time. The delivery of care will aim to be family-centred and holistic, striving towards a satisfying hospital experience for our babies and their parents.
During their stay in the nursery, babies and their mothers will be supported by the allied health teams, including lactation consultants, physiotherapists, speech pathologists, dieticians, occupational therapists, and social workers. An Aboriginal liaison officer and interpreter services are also available. We understand that having a sick newborn in hospital can be a daunting time for parents, so we strive to make the Northern Neonatal Unit as parent friendly as possible. There are facilities for parents to stay by their baby’s cot as well as a separate dining/meal room. A designated parent room that has been provided by Ronald McDonald House is available to give parents their own quiet space, with toilet/shower facilities as well as coffee and tea.
Contact us
(03) 8405 8207
For Health Professionals
What is the service?
The Northern Neonatal Unit is an 18 bed unit that cares for premature and unwell infants from as young as 31 weeks (9 weeks premature). Our babies may be born at The Northern Hospital, or are transferred to us from other hospitals in Victoria to bring families closer to their homes.
Various levels of care are provided. These include:
• Advanced resuscitation and stabilisation of babies
• Use of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and High Flow Nasal Prong support for respiratory distress
• Establishment of oral feeding in premature babies
• Phototherapy for neonatal jaundice
• Intravenous antibiotic therapy
• Intravenous total parenteral nutrition (TPN)
• Monitoring and treatment of hypoglycaemia in neonates
• Observation and management of infants born to chemically dependent mothers
• Hospital in the Home program
Our highly skilled team consists of consultant neonatologists and paediatricians, with 24 hour onsite coverage with paediatric registrars, residents and neonatal nurses. Patients are supported by lactation consultants, physiotherapists, speech pathologists, dieticians, occupational therapists, social workers, an Aboriginal liaison officer and interpreter services.
Director/Head of Unit:
A/Prof Wei Qi Fan – Head of Neonatal Unit
Dr David Tran – Clinical Director of Paediatrics
Barbara Rischitelli – Unit Manager
Enquiries:
(03) 8405 8415
