Who are the Professionals?

The Medical Team

There are usually a number of doctors who provide care for your child. You will find the name of the Consultant (Senior Doctor) in charge of your child's medical team written above your child's bed. The Consultant is the person who has the overall responsibility for your child's medical care.

Consultants

Depending on your child's health problem, the health care team will have a medical or surgical focus, or a combination of both. Most of our Consultants are Paediatricians, who specialise in treating children. Some Consultants are specialists in a particular area of medicine, e.g. renal medicine (related to the kidneys and bladder) or opthalmology (eyes).

Members of the medical or surgical staff might have the title of Professor or Associate Professor. This relates to their connection with the University and their responsibility for teaching students.

Some consultants are known as Staff Specialists and other consultants are known as Visiting Medical Officers (VMOs). This difference relates only to the type of work contract they have with the Hospital and says nothing about their level of skill or experience. Staff Specialists are employed by the Hospital on a full time basis. Visiting Medical Officers work part-time at the Hospital and usually also have a private practice outside the Hospital. They may also work at other hospitals.

All consultants are responsible for teaching and supervising our junior doctors. In most cases, junior doctors and the nursing staff will provide most of your child's day-to-day contact and care.

The Hospital employs a large number of junior doctors who are training to become consultants in their chosen field. Because we specialise in treating children, we do not employ doctors in their first two years after graduating. Junior doctors work under the supervision of a consultant. Depending on their level of experience, junior doctors may have different titles such as:

Resident

Residents are the most junior members of the medical team. They have practised medicine under close supervision in an adult hospital for at least two years before working at this Hospital.

Registrar

Registrars are doctors who have completed their Resident years and are training to become either Paediatricians or Surgeons.

Fellow

Fellows have completed a number of years as a Registrar and are close to the end of their training to become a Consultant.

The Nursing Team

Nursing Unit Manager (NUM)

A NUM is a Registered Nurse who manages a ward, including overseeing the nursing staff. If you have any problems that you are not able to discuss with the nurse looking after your child, the NUM is a good person to speak to.

Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC)

A CNC is a Registered Nurse who consults in a particular area of care across the Hospital and is available to advise and support families, other nursing staff and medical staff. CNC's have a role in co-ordinating your child's care.

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)

A CNS is a Registered Nurse who works on a ward and specialises in a particular area of care for that ward alone. They may also provide advice and support families and other staff within that ward and speciality.

Registered Nurse (RN)

A RN is a nurse who has completed a nursing degree. Many RN's have specialised training in particular areas of nursing care. RN's provide most of the day-to-day care of your child and provide support for your family.

Enrolled Nurse (EN)

An EN is a nurse who has completed a two-year enrolled nursing course and who provides care and support for your child and family at the bedside.

Allied Health Professionals

There are many different health professionals who are referred to as Allied Health Professionals. Just some of them are described below;

Audiologist

Audiologists specialise in assessing hearing.

Dietitian

Dietitians provide the nutritional care, education and counseling for children who require dietary assessment, or special formula, or changes in their diet because of their medical condition.

Occupational Therapist (OT)

OT's work with children and adolescents to help them become independent in daily tasks at home and school, and help families provide care at home.

Orthoptist

Orthoptists specialise in treating eye and vision disorders.

Orthotist

Orthotists specialise in providing equipment (such as splints, braces and support devices) to help manage or correct movement problems.

Pharmacist

Pharmacists provide the medications that help to treat your child's medical condition.

Physiotherapist (Physio)

Physio's work with children and their families to establish, restore and maintain optimum physical function, independence and fitness.

Play Therapist

Play Therapists provide play experiences and coping strategies to help children adjust to their illness and hospitalisation.

Psychologist, Clinical Psychologist & Clinical Neuropsychologist

Psychologists offer patients and families services for a wide range of psychological, behavioural, and psychosocial problems.

Social Worker

Social Workers provide emotional and practical support to help children and families cope with the effects of illness and hospitalisation.

Speech Pathologist

Speech Pathologists diagnose communication and feeding problems and work with families to overcome difficulties in these areas

Hospital School

Children who are in Hospital may miss a lot of school. The Hospital has its own school program for children who are expected to be here for more than a week. If you want to discuss your child's school needs in Hospital, contact the School Administration on (02) 9845 2813 or ask the nursing staff. Classrooms are located on Level 1 near Hall and Wade Wards (junior and senior schools) and on Level 2 outside William Stuart ward.

Parent and Carer Resource Centre

The Parent and Carer resource centre has a range of information on services available for parents and carers. Contact the Carer Support Coordinator on 9845 3590.