The Department of Newborn Care at Liverpool Health Service commenced a Level 6 neonatal service in the Caroline Chisholm
Centre for Women & Babies in February 1994. Previous to this, the Special Care Nursery
had occupied premises at McGirr House together with the Maternity Services of the former
Liverpool District Hospital.
The service opened with twelve Level 2 beds, followed by the opening of four Level 3 neonatal intensive care beds in October
1994. This facilitated the provision of a much needed statewide tertiary referral neonatal
service in South Western Sydney Area Health Service, providing care to premature and sick
newborn babies. The new facilities enabled the provision of optimal care to babies and a
significantly improved environment for the babies, their families and staff. The service
has expanded and currently the Department has eight Level 3 and fifteen Level 2 beds.
Other services provided by the Department include the neonatal Family Support Program (NFSP) and the Neuro-Development
Follow-up Clinic, also known as the Rainbow Clinic. The NFSP facilitates the early
discharge of neonates and provides home-based neonatal care as well as support to
families. Graduates from our Level 3 Nursery who meet the criteria are enrolled in the
follow-up program. The babies are assessed on their neurological and developmental
progress at the Rainbow Clinic and referred to therapy services if required.
Extended Level 2 and Level 3 neonatal nurse training orientation courses and preceptor programs are available and
support continuing education of nurses in the Department.
Paramount to care is equity of access to a single standard of care for all the infants of South Western Sydney. This
especially involves issues of access to neonatal advanced life support and stabilisation.
