Media Release

 

June 29, 2011

 

Children’s Hospital reaches adolescence

 

In 1991 as the new John Hunter Hospital opened, paediatric clinicians dared to dream, that one day Newcastle would be recognised as having a dedicated Children’s Hospital.

As children’s services grew within the newly opened John Hunter, the desire to be recognised as a children’s hospital gained momentum.

In 1996 Dr Cliff Hosking, executive staff and fundraising group Kids Club were instrumental in making this dream a reality. Through the approval of the then Hunter Health board it was decided that on 1 July 1996 Newcastle’s John Hunter Children’s Hospital would become NSW third children’s hospital, along with Westmead Children’s Hospital and Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick.

On Friday 1 July 2011 staff, patients and special guests (including the Knights, Jets management, Clown Doctors, Delta Dogs, Big Dog and Australian Reptile Park) will celebrate 15 years as John Hunter Children’s Hospital.

Director of Children, Young People and Families Professor Trish Davidson said that the public acknowledgement by government, colleagues and our community provided a sense of achievement, but more importantly a sense to deliver.

“The recognition of being known as a children’s hospital provided an open acknowledgement of the standard of care delivered to children with complex and often difficult conditions,” Professor Davidson said.

“Becoming a children’s hospital lifted the expectations of many of our specialties and paediatric anaesthesia, paediatric radiology and paediatric orthopaedics amongst others became recognised in their own right,” she said.

Director of John Hunter Children’s Hospital, Pat Marks, said that following the name change to John Hunter Children’s Hospital, services increased, as did public confidence in treatment provided.

“Following our transition into John Hunter Children’s Hospital, tertiary services increased and we attracted more specialist staff, which enhanced our reputation and public confidence in our services grew,” Mrs Marks said.

“We have an ability to grow our own when it comes to clinicians as well as, nurses, doctors and allied health staff. Our ability to train staff is highly regarded; we are well known for our training and as such have seen an increase in our number of registrars.” Mrs Marks said.

In 1991 paediatric services at John Hunter included general paediatrics, general surgery, endocrine and respiratory services, in reach oncology services, a 29-bed neonatal intensive care unit and an outpatient department that had a significant increase in appointments in comparison to clinics at The Mater Hospital.

In 2011 John Hunter Children’s Hospital has a 41-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with five specialist staff, a cancer and haematology service with three oncologists, an allergy/immunology service, palliative care service, respiratory/sleep service, paediatric surgery and trauma service, neurology service, endocrinology service, orthopaedics service, a new dedicated allied health department, pain service, gastroenterology service, juvenile arthritis clinic, rehabilitation service, children’s medical wards, surgery and oncology ward, adolescent and day stay ward, sleep unit, outpatients department, along with music, art and play therapy, fairy garden, Starlight Room, Ronald McDonald Family Room and interactive website.

 

Media Opportunity

When:          Friday 1 July at 1.30pm
Where:         John Hunter Children’s Hospital
What:           Staff, patients and special guests celebrate 15 years as Newcastle’s Children’s Hospital

 

Media inquiries:

Lucas Coleman - 02 49213844, 0407895101 (Ref : HNE-2579)