Overview
The Paediatric Ward at Werribee Mercy Hospital opened in August 2019 along with an expanded Paediatric Outpatient Clinic service. Most of our admissions are from presentations to the Emergency Department. We admit babies, children and young people aged 0-18 years.
The Paediatric Ward focuses on patient and family-centered care. Parents/guardians are encouraged to take part in their child’s care, treatment and recovery. There are parental facilities (bed, bathroom and so forth), which allow only one parent/guardian to stay overnight with their child during their inpatient stay.
The Paediatric Ward has a playroom where children can play freely. It provides a welcome distraction for children, who can find the hospital environment distressing. The playroom has toys, craft materials, books, game centers, other activities and a relaxation space to meet the children’s needs.
Getting here
Find us at:
300 Princes Highway
Werribee Victoria 3030
For more information on getting here, visit Werribee Mercy Hospital .
Location details
Ward C2 Paedaitric Ward - Main Corridor
On-site signage and indicators
Look for the Paediatric Ward C2 signs on-site.
How can people get access?
The Paediatric Ward (ward C2) is in the main hospital corridor. You can access the main corridor either through the Maternity main entrance or the main hospital entrance on Hoppers Lane. If you require assistance, ask the staff at main reception for directions.
For the safety of our patients, the Paediatric Ward is a locked ward. On arrival, press the doorbell and a member of our staff will assist you.
Parking
Parking is available at the Werribee Mercy Hospital site. A pick-up and drop-off zone at the main entrance is also available.
The nearest car park is the main entrance car park which is accessed via the main hospital entrance on Hoppers Lane. Parking spaces are limited in the main entrance car park.
If the main entrance car park is full, additional parking is available in the multi-storey car park at the back of the hospital. This car park can be accessed from the Princes Highway, after the Emergency Department entrance.
Parking costs are available on the main hospital information page.
Accessible parking is available in the main entrance car park for patients and visitors who hold a valid disability parking permit. Accessible parking is also available near entrances to the Emergency Department, Outpatient Clinic and Maternity Unit.
Patient bus service
The Werribee Mercy Hospital bus service is a free service to help you get around our hospital. The bus transports patients and visitors between the following locations:
- Multi-storey car park
- Hospital main entrance
- Gabrielle Jennings Centre (palliative care inpatient service)
- Outpatient Clinics
The bus operates seven days a week from 8.00am – 8.00pm.
If you need the bus service, please call (03) 8754 3000 to arrange transport.
Opening hours
The Paediatric Ward is a 24-hour inpatient service. Parents and guardians have access to the ward 24 hours a day. There are facilities for only one parent/guardian to stay overnight with their child
Other visitors may attend the ward Monday to Sunday between 10am–8pm.
Your appointment
What to do before
Inpatients
Most admissions to the Paediatric Ward are from presentations to the Emergency Department (ED) and are unplanned.
If your child has been admitted unexpectedly to the Paediatric Ward through ED, please bring in the following items when you are able to:
- change of clothes (for the child and carer)
- comfort object for the child (for example a teddy, blankie or dummy)
- nappies
- bottles and teats (we have facilities to sterilise these if you require them)
- formula milk.
If your child is going to be admitted following surgery, please follow the pre-theatre instructions provided by the surgeon and anaesthetist.
What to bring
- Medicare card
- existing x-ray films, scans, ultrasounds or any other test results or reports
- medicines your child needs to take during their visit
- list (or packaging) of medicines your child is currently taking, including over-the-counter medicines, such as herbal supplements and vitamins
- Health Care Card and/or concession card
- private health insurance card (if applicable)
- adverse drug alert card.
What to expect on the day
Admission into the Paediatric ward is usually through the Emergency Department. We have a family-friendly waiting area in the Emergency Department and we aim to see your child in our specialist children’s assessment and treatment area.
More information
Team Composition
Inpatients are supported by a multi-disciplinary team, which includes:
- paediatric nurses
- paediatric medical staff
- social workers
- speech pathologist
- lactation consultants
- dietitian
- physiotherapists
- clerical staff
- environmental services staff
- interpreting services (if required)
What questions should you ask
Parents know their children best. You are your child’s advocate. Please ask our team any questions you would like answered, no matter how small.
For example:
-Are there any alternative options for treatment?
-Are there any services or resources available to support his/her recovery?
Other resources:
Discharge information
We usually aim to discharge your child from the Paediatric Ward in the morning. Sometimes children might be ready for discharge at another time of day. You will see the paediatric doctors to confirm that your child is ready for discharge. Your nurse will provide you with any education required and complete your discharge paperwork.
The paediatric doctors or treating team will complete a ‘summary of care’ or ‘discharge summary’. We will provide a copy to you and your child’s GP. A prescription and medical/carer’s certificate may be provided if required.
We welcome your questions about your child’s care. We want you and your child to feel comfortable about going home.
Additional support
There are many services to support your child’s recovery once they are discharged. We will make referrals as required. Please don’t hesitate to ask any of the friendly team any questions you may have about the information provided.
Who to call if you have concerns afterwards
If it is a medical emergency please call 000.
If you would like advice please don’t hesitate to call the ward and one of our nursing staff will be happy to assist and give you advice.
If you feel that your child needs to be seen by a doctor, please visit your GP or local family doctor.
If you feel that your child requires urgent review, please don’t hesitate to come to the Emergency Department.
For health professionals
The Paediatric Ward at Werribee Mercy Hospital has 12 inpatient beds and provides care to babies, children and young people aged 0-18 years who are unwell and require hospital admission.
Procedural information
- The majority of admissions to the Paediatric Ward are from the Emergency Department (ED) for children with common paediatric medical problems such as asthma, bronchiolitis, gastroenteritis, fever, poor weight gain, etc
- Children who are critically unwell will not be admitted to the ward. When required, the paediatric and/or emergency doctors will manage critically unwell children while arranging transfer to an appropriate tertiary hospital
- There is limited paediatric surgery performed at Werribee Mercy Hospital. These patients are admitted to the Paediatric Ward and can be co-managed by the paediatric medical and general surgical teams when required
- Please note that we do not provide a paediatric mental health service
How to prepare the patient
If you believe your patient needs to be admitted to the Paediatric Ward, please call 03 8754 3000 and ask to be transferred to the Paediatric Ward Registrar.
Alternatively, you can send the patient to the Emergency Department.
What/when you should refer to us
Inpatient services
All admissions are through the ED for children with common paediatric medical problems (such as asthma, bronchiolitis, gastroenteritis, fever, poor weight gain or viral illness).
Children who are critically unwell will not be admitted to the Paediatric Ward. When required, the paediatric and/or emergency doctors will manage critically unwell children while arranging transfer to an appropriate tertiary hospital.
Werribee Mercy Hospital has a paediatric elective ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgery list. All overnight cases are managed and cared for on the Paediatric Ward, post-operatively.
For emergency surgical presentations, only children over the age of 12 years can be admitted to the ward. They can be co-managed by the surgical and paediatric medical team when required. Children under the age of 12 with surgical presentations will be transferred to an appropriate tertiary center for management. Please note that we do not provide a paediatric mental health service.
If referring a patient to the ED, please provide a referral letter on your official letterhead with the following information:
- patient details
- presenting problem and diagnosis
- medical history
- medication
- allergies
- pathology/radiology results
- your contact details.
What/when you should not refer to us
Children who are critically unwell will not be admitted to the Paediatric Ward.
Mental health patients can not be admitted to the Paediatric Ward but can be referred to the ED at Werribee Mercy Hospital for assessment and follow up by the Mental Health team.
More information
Resources for you
Please refer to:
Professional development
Women’s and Children’s healthcare
- Special Care Nursery
- Mother Baby Unit inpatient services and outpatient services
- Maternity Services
Contacts
In case of emergency, call 000
Contacts at this hospital
Main Reception at Werribee Mercy Hospital
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Phone numbers:
Main Reception at Werribee Mercy Hospital
03 8754 3000
6.30am—8.30pm Monday to Friday
8am—8.30pm Saturday, Sunday and public holidays
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About:
Please call this number for all general enquires regarding Werribee Mercy Hospital services & patient enquires.
Emergency Department
- Website: Emergency Department
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Address:
300 Princes Highway
Werribee Victoria 3030
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About:
The Werribee Mercy Hospital Emergency Department provides urgent assessment and treatment for people of all ages, and for all conditions.
For non-urgent conditions, there are general practitioners (GPs) located near the hospital who are available until late in the evening.
If you are unsure about your condition, or you are concerned about a family member, come to the Emergency Department.
Outpatient Clinics - Medical/Surgical
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Phone numbers:
Outpatient Clinics - Medical/Surgical
03 8754 6700
- Phone number: 03 8754 6710
- Website: Outpatient access
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About:
Call this number for:
· Appointment questions
· Referral questions
· You want to speak to a nurse about why you are coming to see the specialist
· You want to change your appointment
· You want to tell us you no longer need your appointment
Other places to get help
NURSE-ON-CALL
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Phone numbers:
NURSE-ON-CALL
1300 60 60 24
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Website: NURSE-ON-CALL - health.vic
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About:
NURSE-ON-CALL is a phone service that provides immediate, expert health advice from a registered nurse.
If you think your situation is an emergency, you should always call 000 or go to an emergency department at a hospital.
Call for the cost of a local call from anywhere in Victoria for health advice 24 hours a day (calls from mobile phones may be charged at a higher rate).
NURSE-ON-CALL puts you directly in touch with a registered nurse for caring, professional health advice around the clock. You may need us when:
– you or someone you’re caring for is feeling unwell
– you are not sure if you should seek medical help
– you’re away from home or situated a long way from medical help
– you simply want advice or information about health services in your area.What happens when I call for advice?
Step 1 – a registered nurse will answer your call and collect some basic details.Step 2 – the nurse will then ask you a series of questions about your symptoms and other issues relating to your health.
Step 3 – at the end of the call the nurse may suggest ways you can care for yourself, advise you to contact a GP or, in the event that your condition is very serious, transfer the call to 000. Note that nurses do not provide a full diagnosis of your symptoms.
NURSE-ON-CALL uses the most up-to-date health information available, giving you and your family the highest quality advice. All information you provide remains confidential and records are fully secure.
Maternal and Child Health Line
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Phone numbers:
Maternal and Child Health Line
13 22 29
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Email address: [email protected]
- Website: Maternal and Child Health Line
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About:
The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Line is a statewide telephone service available every day of the year for Victorian families with children from birth to school age.
Maternal and child health nurses can provide information, support and guidance regarding a range of issues including child health, nutrition, breastfeeding, maternal and family health and parenting.
Parentline
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Phone numbers:
Parentline
13 22 89
8am to midnight, 7 days a week.
- Website: parentline
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About:
Parentline is a confidential and anonymous phone counselling service for parents and carers of children and teenagers in Victoria. We offer counselling, information and support around a range of parenting issues.
Raising Children Network
- Website: raisingchildren.net.au
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About:
Raising Children Network is the complete resource for Australian parents, taking you from pregnancy to newborns to teenagers. We offer evidence-based content you can trust on hundreds of topics about raising children and looking after yourself as a parent.
At the Raising Children Network website, we believe that all children and families are individual and different. Our scientifically validated content is translated into everyday language to help parents and carers make decisions that work for them in their individual family circumstances.
Australian Breastfeeding Association
- Website: www.breastfeeding.asn.au
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About:
As Australia’s leading authority on breastfeeding, we support, educate and advocate for a breastfeeding inclusive society.
Royal Children's Hospital Kids Health Info
- Website: Kids Health Fact Sheets
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About:
Kids Health Info fact sheets are useful for:
- Learning about or increasing your understanding of your or your child’s medical condition.
- Learning about or increasing your understanding of your or your child’s treatment.
- Providing a starting point for further questions that you might like to ask your or your child’s doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional.
cohealth community asthma program (cap)
- Website: cohealth community asthma program (cap)
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About:
The Community Asthma Program (CAP) provides asthma education and support for children (under 18) with asthma or Ventolin responsive wheeze.
Department of Health National Immunisation Program Schedule
- Website: National Immunisation Program Schedule
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About:
The National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule is a series of immunisations given at specific times throughout your life. The immunisations range from birth through to adulthood. If you stay on track with your immunisation schedule, the vaccines are free under the NIP.
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