Medical Day Unit / Ngartu-itya kangkawardli

The Medical Day Unit (MDU) cares for children with a variety of medical conditions, and is co-located with the Renal Dialysis Unit (RDU).

The Medical Day Unit is an inpatient and outpatient Unit of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Its co-location with the Renal Dialysis Unit helps to ensure availability of nursing staff with specialised skills, and and allows sharing of flexible treatment spaces, including a negative pressure room for infection control.

The Kaurna name for the Medical Day Unit is Ngartu-itya kangkawardli, which means "Caring for Children".

The Medical Day Unit provides care for children and youth in the form of medical and diagnostic interventions and treatments, including:

intravenous (IV) antibiotics
blood transfusions and the administration of a variety of other specialty medications
allergy challenges
treatment under sedation
patient teaching and education.

How to access this service

Written referrals are required. The referral may be from your general paediatrician or other specialist who has admitting rights to the Women's and Children's Hospital.

Hours

This unit provides a service Monday – Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm.

Location

Level 4, Zone B

Visiting hours

Parents, care givers and grandparents may visit at any time between 8:00am and 4:00pm, following SA Health regulations.

Further information

Parents and caregivers

One parent/caregiver is welcome to stay for the duration of treatment.

Accommodation is available at nearby hotels or motels.

The unit has access to a parents' room with tea and coffee and a microwave.

For safety reasons do not bring hot drinks or hot food into the ward.

The Hospital does not take responsibility for theft or loss of valuables. Please do not leave your valuables unattended.

Nursing and medical staff

There are skilled and caring nurses and medical staff who work on the ward to look after your child, and they will introduce themselves on presentation.

Please present to the Medical day Unit administration office at the entrance of MDU.

Facilities

The hospital provides nutritious meals for children. Meals and snacks for parents and caregivers are available from the cafés or shops within the hospital.

The hospital provides a range of infant formulas. As we cannot provide every formula that is available, you may need to supply a tin of your baby's preferred formula.

Our play coordinator will help your child to relax and have fun during their stay. The ward playroom has a range of games, toys and activities.

Mobile phones interfere with sensitive medical equipment. Please observe signs.

Televisions are provided in patient areas for all children. There are four television, four video and four Foxtel channels. Videos are played in negotiation with the nursing staff or play coordinator.

Car parking is available on or near the hospital grounds.