Mediclinic Newcastle’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Paediatric Ward are essential components of the hospital’s commitment to providing specialised care for the younger population of Northern KwaZulu-Natal. These expertly managed units consistently deliver exceptional outcomes, supported by a wealth of success stories and a team of highly skilled professionals.
In a previous article, we discussed the unique contributions these units make within the private healthcare sector, driven by the expertise of Mediclinic Newcastle’s distinguished nurses and doctors.
To read more, click here.
Today, we delve further into the operations of these units, featuring insights from the outstanding paediatricians, Dr Busi Mahlaba, Dr Eugene Govere, Dr Mulalo Nepfumbada, and Dr Sam Vilane, on admissions and the various key points of the NICU and Paediatric Ward.
Dr Eugene Govere outlines the admission process for the NICU, focusing on high-risk pregnancies. According to Dr Govere, when a gynaecologist identifies a potential emergency or medical concern, they contact the family’s paediatrician to inform them that the baby will need to be admitted to the NICU following delivery. “We then inform the NICU so that they can make the necessary preparations, ensure they have the necessary machines and are able to manage the baby timeously. On the day of the caesarean section or delivery, the baby will be moved from theatre or the delivery room and immediately taken to the NICU,” states Dr Govere.
Additionally, Dr Mulalo Nepfumbada explains the time frames, whereby she says that when admitting an infant into the NICU, it typically takes about an hour but can extend up to an hour and a half depending on the baby’s condition.
“For example, if you must ventilate the baby, call for X-Rays, confirming the placement of tubes and so forth, so it can take a while,” she notes.
When shifting focus to the Paediatric Ward, Dr Busi Mahlaba outlines the three pathways for admitting a child to the ward. As explained by the doctor, the first involves a direct referral from the paediatrician’s rooms if a child is deemed extremely ill and requires immediate hospitalisation. “I will then call the Paediatric Ward, and speak to the Sister in charge. They will need information in terms of the medical aid details, the patient’s details and what type of a bed they need and if it is a small baby or bigger child. Then, they will go from the paediatrician’s rooms to the Paediatric Ward. Once there, the parents will then go to the admin section of the ward and their child is then booked into the rooms.”
The second method involves admission via the Casualty Unit, where the casualty doctor assesses the child and, if necessary, contacts the Paediatric Ward to arrange admission after ensuring the paediatrician on call accepts the patient. The third method is for children transferred from other hospitals, often from Vryheid or Mpumalanga, requiring the expertise of Mediclinic Newcastle’s paediatricians.
Regarding the processing time for the ward, Dr Nepfumbada highlights that the admission process for the Paediatric Ward generally takes around 45 minutes.
When looking beyond the process and time frames, Dr Sam Vilane address the misconceptions surrounding admissions. “Medical care is unlike what you see in shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, where you bring your child in and there is X-Rays on one side, blood tests on one side and you get all the results in a few minutes. It can take time, but parents can rest assured that they can trust the doctors to the highest degree and know they will not walk out of the hospital without a diagnosis. Mediclinic Newcastle has doctors who can work in most parts of the world and we will do as much as possible for our patients, involving their parents in the day to day care,” he clarifies.
Developing on this, Dr Nepfumbada points out that misconceptions also extend to the length of a patient’s stay.
Parents might expect a quick recovery, not realising that admissions, especially in the NICU, can last extended periods. “It can be anything from two weeks to a month, or longer. Therefore, you have to keep reassuring the parents and keep them updated, as they do not always understand what is going on and why the baby is staying for so long,” she notes.
Furthermore, both Dr Mahlaba and Dr Nepfumbada underline the importance of thorough care and aftercare practised at Mediclinic Newcastle. Dr Mahlaba explains that the Paediatric Ward handles a broad spectrum of health issues, including seasonal illnesses as well as more severe conditions. “We do the day-to-day consultations, finding out if there is anything wrong with the baby, establishing what is the latest on the patient, check if we need to change any medication, adjust anything in terms of whether or not they need more respiratory support,” she describes, noting this is especially important within the NICU where doctors need to establish if the patient requires to be ventilated or downscaled.
A key fundamental within the NICU, as per Dr Nepfumbada, includes assessing nutrition intake and infection management.
“When the babies come in at first and they are not feeding, we have what we call TPM, which is basically food in a drip. We give this to the babies until they are strong enough to feed,” she explains. Lung development and infections are also closely monitored, with appropriate ventilation provided as needed.
Discussing the level of care at the private hospital, Dr Mahlaba reassures parents of the consistent and comprehensive care provided at Mediclinic Newcastle. “There will never be a time where a child is not seen by anybody. If one of us is not around in town, there is always someone else who is there to cover, both day and night and through the weekends.”
Adding to this, Dr Vilane emphasises the importance of aftercare, especially for premature babies who require continued monitoring post-discharge. “It all depends on the condition, such as with premature babies who we will have to monitor after being discharged and we also have to take potential complications into consideration, which will see the paediatricians keep a close eye on the patients,” he explains.
Moreover, when looking at future developments heading to the Paediatric Ward, as mentioned in the previous article, Dr Nepfumbada states that she is looking forward to the upcoming improvements, such as additional beds to better serve the community.
“The new developments will see that parents will not have to leave town for treatment, as we will have more beds, and children will be able to receive the necessary treatment as they grow stronger.”
Touching on the passionate team and their pursuit in always providing optimum care, Dr Govere adds that the NICU and Paediatric Ward teams are constantly advancing their skills. “Parents should be aware that the Paediatric Ward and NICU team and the doctors working closely within the two wards also regularly attended workshops and training to keep them abreast of the latest developments, techniques and diseases to ensure that their patients always receive the best form of treatment,” he concludes.
With the unwavering dedication of Mediclinic Newcastle’s Paediatricians and nursing staff, parents rest assured that their children will receive premium care and support. As noted by the doctors, the NICU and Paediatric Ward remain committed to providing the highest level of medical attention and comfort to young patients and their families.
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