SA Health’s Women’s and Children’s Health Network (WCHN) has launched a new service to support children and young people diagnosed with COVID-19.
Announced by the Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Stephen Wade, children and young people with COVID-19 are to be able to access treatment from the comfort and safety of their own home, as part of the COVIDKIDS Service.
“The new COVIDKIDS Service engages experienced paediatric nurses, doctors and other supporting staff from the Women’s and Children’s Hospital (WCH) to assess children with COVID-19 without them and their families needing to leave home,” Mr Wade said.
He said the Service would be led by Paediatric Infectious Diseases Consultant at WCH, Dr Nan Vasilunas and Nurse Unit Manager at WCH, Beth Schell, and the space would have its own separate, dedicated patient entrance off King William Road.
Dr Vasilunas said families whose children were referred to COVIDKIDS would receive regular virtual check-ups, support and advice while at home and children would be able to access onsite care at the hospital, should they require it.
“If a child with COVID-19 does require in-person care, the COVIDKIDS team will organise for them to attend hospital and will review them in a newly upgraded space specifically for patients with COVID-19 if appropriate,” Dr Vasilunas said.
Chief Executive of WCHN, Lindsey Gough said children could be ‘admitted’ to the “COVIDKIDS service via GPAT, a GP liaison service” and then contacted and assessed by a paediatrician and experienced paediatric nurse by videoconference.
“This team will decide how frequently the child requires monitoring, which may be once a day via a phone call from a paediatric nurse, or up to twice daily with a doctor/nurse team via videoconference,” Ms Gough said.
Further information about the COVIDKIDS Service can be accessed at this PS News link.
