Neonatal Units
Who are we
- the neonatal unit at King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH)
- the neonatal unit at Perth Children Hospital (PCH 3B)
- the neonatal transport service (NETSWA)
A neonatal team of skilled medical, nursing, pharmacists and allied healthcare workers including dieticians, physiotherapists social workers and psychologists cares for the babies admitted to the Neonatology Service.
The neonatal team is dedicated to providing the best possible care for the smallest and sickest babies in WA.
What we do
NETSWA
The Neonatal Emergency Transport Service of WA (NETSWA) is a mobile intensive care unit for sick newborn and young infants who require tertiary neonatal care at PCH 3B or KEMH.
NETSWA provides service to the largest transport area in the world. There are about 1300 neonatal transports per year.
KEMH Neonatal Unit
The KEMH Neonatal Unit is in the maternity hospital KEMH.
It provides intensive, high dependency and special care for preterm and sick newborn babies in Western Australia.
There are approximately 6,500 births at KEMH each year with 2,300 to 2,400 neonatal admissions.
The Neonatal team at KEMH care for babies with a wide range of conditions using state-of-the-art equipment. We provide antenatal counselling, care and resuscitation in the delivery room, acute care in the neonatal unit and outpatient follow-up for high-risk patients in a dedicated clinic.
The neonatal team collaborate closely with obstetricians and midwives, maternal-fetal medicine specialists and paediatric medical and surgical sub-specialists from PCH.
There is a human milk bank at KEMH that provides pasteurised donated human milk to KEMH and PCH3B. Learn more about the PREM Milk Bank.
Babies with an antenatal diagnosis of a condition likely to need care soon after birth are born at KEMH. In some cases, babies are moved to PCH 3B for further treatment using NETSWA.
The other common reason for admission at KEMH Neonatal Unit is prematurity and breathing difficulties after birth.
KEMH neonatal unit has 92 beds, including 30 intensive care beds and 62 special care beds (20 level 5 and 42 level 4).
PCH 3B Neonatal Unit
PCH is the only tertiary/quaternary paediatric centre in Western Australia (WA).
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at PCH, also known as PCH 3B, is a 30-bed unit which provides intensive and high dependency care for approximately 800 babies a year with surgical, cardiac, complex medical needs as well as some more common neonatal conditions using state of the art equipment.
PCH 3B is located on the same floor as theatres and next to the paediatric critical care unit.
PCH 3B has outpatient follow-up for high-risk infants including those who undergo surgery in the neonatal period.
The unit works in conjunction with other paediatric subspecialties such as paediatric surgery, urology, cardiology, cardiothoracic, ENT, respiratory, nephrology, gastroenterology, neurosurgery, neurology, endocrinology, biochemistry, haematology, immunology, physiotherapy, speech therapy, audiology.
In addition to clinical care, Neonatology staff at KEMH, PCH 3B and NETSWA
- Train medical and nursing students, nursing staff, paediatric trainees, and advanced neonatal trainees
- Develop and share clinical guidelines
- Engage actively in research
- Advocate for quality and safety in neonatal care
What to expect
Parents and caregivers can expect
- Dedication to high-quality, safe, Family Integrated Care (FICare)
- Open communication
- Psychosocial support
- Lactation support
- Careful discharge planning
Colleagues can expect
KEMH, PCH 3B and NETSWA provide a supportive, balanced working and learning environment that enables them to achieve a successful and fulfilling career.
We strive to provide a high quality, evidence-based learning environment for colleagues of all paths and at all levels of career through:
- Clinical exposure and experience
- Exposure to state-of-the-art equipment including Bunnell High Frequency Jet Ventilators
- Participation in research and quality improvement
- Didactic teaching programs
- Simulation based teaching
- Supervision and training in clinician performed ultrasound (CCPU)
- Continued professional development
- Departmental meetings including grand rounds and journal club