Paediatric Emergency Unit
Every year Monash Children's treats more than 40,000 children in its emergency departments at Clayton, Dandenong and Berwick hospitals!
The Paediatric Emergency Unit, headed by Dr Edward Oakley since 2008, is often the first contact that children (and their parents) have with Southern Health.A key function of nursing in Paediatric Emergency is to ascertain through effective communication how serious a child’s complaint is.
It was only recognised as late as 1973 that a Casualty and Primary Care Clinic for Children had to be established at the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital as a consequence of ever-increasing child patients seeking emergency treatment.
Forming part of the Agnes Nathan Children’s Unit at that hospital, this clinic, which received patients at all hours, day and night, came well-equipped for resuscitation in an emergency and also was used for children requiring special treatment such as day-time blood transfusions.
The clinic revolutionised this part of the Queen Vic’s Primary Care service until it relocated to Monash Medical Centre Clayton in 1987. With the re-location of both the Queen Victoria Medical Centre and Prince Henry’s Hospital to Monash Medical Centre Clayton in 1987, children’s services were significantly expanded.
In 1994, a specialised paediatric emergency review clinic was established at Monash Medical Centre Clayton as part of a process to provide an improved service to children needing intensive care or resuscitation.
From a preventive health view, Paediatric Emergency Medicine promotes the acquisition of protective behaviour skills by all children involved in contact sport. It assesses and manages major trauma in children in order to stabilise them.