Neonatology – Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) – Monash Newborn Services
A large number of premature babies delivered at 20-22 weeks, have to be treated for cerebral palsy.
If they are to grow to become strong, healthy children, these babies need help to breathe, to feed, and to live. However, such babies are in good hands as the survival rate of extremely premature babies treated by Southern Health is one of the best in the world.In 1977, Newborn Services, under the direction of Associate Professor Victor Yu, began at the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital. Just two years later, a Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing course was established at that hospital in order to provide nurses with thorough training in the specialist area of caring for the newborn.
In 1981, a post graduate training program for doctors was also established, allowing young paediatricians to gain the specialist expertise to become neonatologists.
Relocated in 1987 to the Clayton Campus of Monash Medical Centre, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Monash Newborn Services has successfully treated thousands of babies. Dr Andrew Ramsden succeeded Professor Yu as Director of Neonatology, after the latter retired from this position in 2004.