Despite the coronavirus pandemic interrupting a well-deserved first birthday celebration for the team at the Werribee Mercy Hospital Paediatric Ward, expansion plans for an outpatients area are already in place, which will deliver even more peace of mind for Wyndham families.
Nurse Unit Manager Simone Danaher says the hard-working, skilled and caring team members were looking forward to a celebration to thank families and their children for their year of support.
“Unfortunately coronavirus interfered with our plans so we improvised with cupcakes, balloons and displays around an already colourful ward — but unfortunately without guests,” she said.
Nurse Unit Manager Simone Danaher managed cupcake allocation during the improvised first birthday celebration.
Clinical Director of Paediatrics and Special Care Nursery Dr Kathy McMahon says the service operates around the clock, meaning Wyndham families can be assured of professional treatment any time of the day or night.
What was frustrating for the paediatrics’ team was that after traction had built — the coronavirus struck.
“When the ward opened in August 2019, a challenge was building our profile and letting local families and general practitioners know that the facility was up and running,” Dr McMahon said.
The pair agrees that traction was taking effect when Australia’s greatest health crisis in a century arrived in greater Melbourne.
“It’s had a two-fold effect, says Simone.
“Firstly there has been an understandable anxiety about families coming into all areas of the hospital.
“The other factor is that with schools closing, children are spending much more time indoors. Therefore, they have avoided some usual mid-year winter illnesses and infections such as flu, asthma and bronchial problems.”
Staff from the Paediatric ward (taken at the opening in 2019).
Still, Simone says the team is always inundated with positive feedback.
“Families who bring their children to us are amazingly grateful. They are especially relieved when they see their children beaming again and back to full health. When they become aware of our ward, and couple that with good treatment for their children, they also then express their relief at not needing to travel to metropolitan Melbourne,” says Simone.
The WMH Paediatric Ward treats patients as young as baby Noah Pixton.
Coronavirus may have thrown a spanner in the works but Kathy still has one eye on the future of the ward. The next step is the expansion of an outpatients area, which is already underway.
“We are also hoping to introduce more surgery,” she says. “We are here to help our Wyndham families, we are eager and will push for them to consider us their local paediatric service.”
Last reviewed October 20, 2020.