Tamworth Rural Referral Hospital

Tamworth Rural Referral Hospital provides a broad range of specialist services to the residents of the New England and Upper Hunter.

The Hospital provides a level 5 Emergency Department and Intensive care with an adjunct retrieval service.
The hospital has specialist wards/units for Surgery, Day Surgery, General Medicine, Critical Care, Obstetrics, Paediatrics, Emergency Services, Oncology, Palliative Care, Rehabilitation, High Dependency Nursing and Mental Health, Renal, Oncology.

These facilities are backed up by a broad range of diagnostic and allied health services including Radiology, Ultrasound, Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Social Work, ECG and Discharge Planning. Plus Administration and Hotel Services support.

Paediatric Services

The Paediatric Unit of Tamworth Rural Referral Hospital has 15 beds with over 1500 admissions per year.

Staff Specialist Clinics are held at Tamworth Rural Referral Hospital in a well-designed clinic space appropriate for children and supported by clerical staff.

The following paediatric outreach clinics are provided to Tamworth Rural Referral Hospital:

• Neurology and Brain Injury Clinic - 3-4 times per year from John Hunter Children's Hospital
• Respiratory Clinic -  annually  from John Hunter Children's Hospital
• Immunology Clinic - biannually from John Hunter Children's Hospital
• Surgical Clinic - 3 times per year from John Hunter Children's Hospital
• Neonatology Clinic - biannually from John Hunter Children's Hospital
• Cleft Palate Clinic - annually from John Hunter Children's Hospital
• Endocrine Clinic - 2-3 times per year from John Hunter Children's Hospital
• Oncology Clinic - 2 times per year from John Hunter Children's Hospital
• Cardiology Clinic - 5 times per year from Westmead Children's Hospital

Paediatric Oncology services are generally provided by Prince of Wales Hospital (Sydney) and the John Hunter Children's Hospital. Chemotherapy is administered in the Day Infusion Oncology Service.

In this region the Child, Young Person and Family Service consists of Child and Family Health Nursing Services (including Families NSW and Parenting Education), Genetic Counselling, PANOC Child Protection Counselling, Child, Adolescent and Family Counselling (Psychologists, Social Worker and Welfare Officer), Speech Pathology Services, Aboriginal Mothers and Babies Services, Paediatric Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy services. Audiometry Services and Immunisation Services are provided by community nurses working in collaboration with the paediatric staff from Child and Family Health.

These professionals provide a variety of child and family health services (including assessment, therapy and counselling) to children, adolescents (aged 0-18 years) and their families who live in the New England Area.

Clinics are provided by the Tamworth Paediatric Clinic to:

• Aboriginal Medical Service in Tamworth
• Paediatrics Clinics general to Coldedale community centre, Coonabarbran, Narrabri, Gunnedah and Quirindi
• Asthma clinic - Tamworth Hospital
• Diabetes clinics in collaboration with Tamworth Diabetes Services
• The Paediatric Unit provides twenty four hour services to the New England Area
• There is a designated paediatric area in the emergency department

When do we refer to another facility?

Referrals to John Hunter Children's Hospital and the Sydney Children's Hospital Network (Randwick and Westmead) may occur in two situations.

Non urgent referral to Subspecialty Clinics will occur whenever one of the local Paediatricians requires a more specialised opinion. Our close relationships with our colleagues at John Hunter Children's Hospital in particular, make these referrals efficient and valuable. We would usually continue to be responsible for their general paediatric care.

Children who are admitted to Tamworth Hospital or neonates who are born here, but require intensive care or immediate subspecialist care are transferred to a tertiary centre by NETS (Neonatal Emergency Transport Service) or other means. Our Children's Ward and Special Care Nursery are equipped to stabilise these children and act as High Dependency Units, however sometimes transfer is in their best interest.

Location and Contact Details

Paediatric Clinic

Upper ground floor of Tamworth Rural Referral Hospital
Monday - Friday
8.30am-5pm
(02)676 78740

Paediatric Unit

Operates 24-hours per day
(02)676 77250

Community Health Services

(02)676 78000