12 June 2008

More Paediatric Networking Services for Western NSW

NSW Minister for Health Reba Meagher today announced the allocation of more than $978,000 to expand paediatric networking services in western parts of the state.

"Child Health Networks were established in 2001 to improve children's health services across NSW," Ms Meagher said.

"The Networks ensure that children can receive the health care they need, as close to home as possible, whenever it is safe to offer it.

"The Networks divide the state into three areas and incorporate metropolitan and rural partners linking up with one of the state's three children's hospitals."

The Networks are:

• Western Child Health Network - affiliated with The Children's Hospital at Westmead
• Greater Eastern and Southern Child Health Network - affiliated with Sydney Children's Hospital
• Northern Child Health Network - affiliated with John Hunter Children's Hospital.

"The funding I am committing today will offer clinicians in western NSW the opportunity to develop or pilot projects for children and their families to improve their health care experience and establish services as close to home as possible," Ms Meagher said.

Amongst a range of projects, the following initiatives have been funded in the Western Child Health Network:

Lift the Lip ($50,000) - This project will be piloted at Mt Druitt and Lithgow hospitals and will involve dental screening for children aged 0-5years who are in hospital and those presenting to Emergency Departments.

The project aims to increase the oral health awareness and knowledge of inpatient paediatric and Emergency Department staff, improve early identification and prevention of dental disease for children in hospital, increase timely and appropriate dental referrals by inpatient ward staff and emergency department staff for children in hospital.

Promoting Healthy Kids - Everyday, Everywhere ($223,748) - This project aims to build the capacity of Area Health Service professionals to promote nutrition and physical activity and address obesity in children.

The project will focus on the implementation of Promoting Healthy Kids - Everyday, Everywhere model of care for health professionals dealing with overweight children.

Focus groups with health care providers and parents groups will be run at:

• Sydney West AHS
• Greater Western AHS
• North Sydney Central Coast AHS
• Sydney South West AHS
• The Children's Hospital at Westmead.

"Paediatric networking extends beyond just linkages between hospitals and includes GPs, private paediatricians and allied health service providers, community health and primary care services, early childhood services and other government and non government agencies with a responsibility for children's health and welfare," Ms Meagher said.

"Already the Networks have rolled out clinical practice guidelines for common conditions presenting to hospitals which means that children from Broken Hill to Bondi can expect the same treatment and standard of care.

"These projects offer our health and community services the chance to further improve models of care for children across the state."

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au