NSW Paediatric Networks

Principles and Guidelines for networking paediatric services in New South Wales
NSW Health places a special importance on the provision of services to children. Paediatric services are defined as services for children aged less than 15 years old, excluding neonatal services. Whilst aiming to provide the best possible care as close as possible to where children live, there is a recognition that not all services can be provided everywhere. Previous planning documents have provided clear statements to assist in the appropriate development of services. These include:

Specialist Paediatric Services in NSW - Strategic Plan to 2001 (NSW Health, 2001)
Guide to Role Delineation of Health Services (NSW Health, 1998)
Guidelines for the Hospitalisation of Children (NSW Health 1997)
A Framework for Managing the Quality of Health Services in NSW (NSW Health, 1999)

Paediatric networking will ensure high quality clinical care as close as possible to home for all children. The focus will be on a shared approach to service development. This approach will ultimately lead to significant benefits to patients, their carers and clinicians alike.

The Paediatric Services Networking Steering Committee, chaired by the Director General, has overseen the development of the guidelines, which form part of a range of strategies that promote quality and integrated service delivery. The Guidelines for Networking of Paediatric Services in New South Wales (pdf 282K) was prepared by the Statewide Services Development Branch of NSW Health under the guidance of the Paediatric Services Steering Committee.

Guiding Principles for planning rural paediatric health care services:

Priority is to meet the needs of communities by providing the most appropriate, highest quality health care services in the most appropriate location.
A fundamental principles of the Australian Health Care system is the patient's right to be treated according to clinical need, regardless of where they live.
Patients must continue to have choice of provider.
Minimisation of travel time, particularly for families in rural and remote communities and children requiring ongoing treatment.
All paediatric health workers should be involved in the planning process, have access to information and be appropriately supported.
Information about local health care services should be easily accessible to the community.

All area health services have different needs, and the NCHN has been very active in determining these needs. Representatives of NCHN have traveled to the regions to meet with child health service providers and with the planners and executive of the area health services. Meetings and focus groups have been held, and these were followed up with surveys about requirements for paediatric service enhancements and education.

The three Paediatric Networks in NSW are:
Greater Eastern and Southern NSW Child Health Network
Northern Child Health Network
Western Child Health Network