A new paediatric hub at the emergency department of Bendigo Hospital will provide specially tailored care to the region's children.
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The hub, which opened on Monday, contains three new beds solely for the use of paediatric patients.
It’s one of several spaces in the hospital designed to accommodate gradual growth in patient numbers over time.
Acting director of the emergency department Simon Smith said the hub meant staff could look after children in a more appropriate way, thereby improving the treatment they offer.
Children account for about 20 percent of presentations to the emergency department at Bendigo Hospital.
All under 16s who present to emergency will now go through the paediatric hub.
The space has been designed to smooth the process of attending hospital for children and their families.
Specially trained nurse will look after the children’s cubicles, which sit close to a paediatric procedure room and the waiting room.
Colours, stickers and paintings on the wall make the area more inviting.
“Children will have their safe space, a comfortable space in the cubicles,” Dr Smith said.
“If the procedures need to happen it can… get done in a separate area, where they’re going to be more comfortable than where we could look after them previously.”
Executive director of clinical operations Robyn Lindsay said the hub was part of the initial planning for the new hospital.
“Our clinicians had a lot of input into the designing this space to make sure that we make the process of attending hospital as least overwhelming as it can be for children and their families,” Ms Lindsay said.
“It does include a specific paediatric waiting are that is immediately adjacent to the area where we can care for children here very safely but also in an environment that is perhaps a little bit less intimidating.”
The paediatric hub is one of the expansion zones built into the new hospital to suit the needs of the community into the future.
The emergency department has about a five percent increase in the number of patients presenting each year.
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