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Mater Children’s Hospitals’ Paediatric Emergency Medicine Unit
Mater Children’s Hospitals’ Paediatric Emergency Medicine Unit
Paediatric Emergency Medicine
The Department of Paediatric Emergency Medicine is a unit of the Women's and Children's Health Services. It is the busiest Paediatric Emergency Department in Queensland and one of the busiest Paediatric Emergency Departments in Australia with presentations in excess of 42 000 per year.
It serves the South Brisbane population from the neonatal period through to late adolescence providing a 24-hour service for acutely ill or injured children. The unit accepts transfers from peripheral urban hospitals as one of two tertiary paediatric emergency services in Queensland and as the Paediatric Trauma Centre for Brisbane South.
The department is located on level 4 of the Mater Children's Hospital (MCH). This department is purpose-built in accordance with Australasian College of Emergency medicine guidelines providing the latest in technology and workplace design. It includes 12 acute patient beds and an eight bed short stay ward to extend the ability to monitor and observe paediatric patients. Clinical activity in the Mater Children’s Hospital Emergency Department is performed on the basis of medical need with appropriate customer focus incorporating both public and private models of care.
The staff, (medical, nursing and administrative) are a strong, cohesive team that work together to ensure children presenting to the department, and their parents and families, receive the highest possible standard of care.
Staffing
Nursing
There are clinical, registered and enrolled nurses, all with extensive experience in, and commitment to, the management of ill or injured children and their families. The Senior Nursing Team consists of the Nurse Manager, a Nurse Educator and Clinical Nurse Consultant. The Department also boasts the states first two Paediatric Nurse Practitioners and is continuing the program by supporting Nurse Practitioner Interns throughout the study process.
Nurse Manager
John Leach RN, Paed Cert, Grad Dip Nur Mgt (UTS – Sydney), MRCA
Nurse Educator
Sharon Bluett RN, Dip App Sc (Nursing), BA Nursing, Grad Cert Clinical Education
Clinical Nurse Consultants
Mel Prince RN, RM, BA Nursing
Elizabeth Ruddy RN, BA Nursing, Grad Cert Critical Care
Nurse Practitioners
Kerry Gordon
Suzanne Williams
Medical
Paediatric Emergency Physicians are available seven days per week to supervise the medical team between the hours of 8 am and 11 pm and provide remote cover at other times.
Department Director
Dr Grant Stone MBBS FRACP
Staff Specialists
Dr Fiona Thomson MBBS FRACP FACEM
Dr Susan Thornton MBBS FRACP
Dr Robyn Brady MBBS FRACP FACEM
Dr Chris Johansson MBBS FRACP
Dr Sharon McAuley MBBS MRCP (UK)
Dr David Herd MBBS FRACP
Dr Ruth Barker MBBS FRACP
Dr Kong Liew MBBS FACEM
The department is accredited to train doctors in the specialty of paediatric emergency medicine. The complement of 14 registrars is made up of a mix of Paediatric and Emergency Medicine trainees. They supervise nine resident medical staff. Duties include departmental management, procedural supervision, daily results audit and supervision of junior medical staff. Active involvement in departmental policy development and research is encouraged. A detailed training program along Australasian College for Emergency Medicine and Paediatric Emergency Medicine guidelines is offered along with the opportunity for sub-specialty unit exposure.
Teaching
There is a high level of commitment to ongoing teaching in Paediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) which includes:
- provision of on-floor consultant supervision seven days a week
- fortnightly mock emergency scenario and debrief/skills training for whole department
- weekly protected registrar training afternoon (scenario/tutorial/unit meeting). Support for individual training needs
- registrar involvement in departmental audit, policy development and unit meetings
- support for attendance at Paediatric Life Support training programs.
Contact Details
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Mater Children’s Hospital
Raymond Terrace South Brisbane
Telephone: 07 3163 2400