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Acknowledgement
The Women's and Children's Hospital is located on the traditional lands for the Kaurna people, and we respect their spiritual relationship with their Country. We also acknowledge that the Kaurna people are the custodians of the Adelaide region, and that their cultural and heritage beliefs are still as important to the living Kaurna people today.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices and names of people who have passed away.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

NICU 1

NICU is where a transdisciplinary team cares for babies who require respiratory support, central line management and continuous observation. These babies may be born ill and/or prematurely.

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a 14 bed unit responsible for the provision of care for babies in need of intensive (Level 6) care born at the WCH, born elsewhere in South Australia, the Northern Territory, Western Victoria and the far west of New South Wales.

How to access this service

Due to COVID-19, visiting is restricted to parents/caregiver only.

Hours

24/7 Service

Location

Queen Victoria Building Level 3 Zone F

Further information

NICU is where a multidisciplinary team cares for babies who require respiratory support, central line management and continuous observation. These babies may be born ill and/or prematurely.

NICU is divided into 3 areas NICU 1, 2 & 3, each with 6 beds and the ability to flex up in NICU 1.

All of the nursing staff delivering care in NICU are Registered Nurses/Midwives, with many having advanced Neonatal Intensive Care qualifications.

We welcome the involvement of parents and caregivers while babies are in NICU. Our care is family-centred, meeting the physical, emotional, social, cultural and spiritual needs of the family.

There is a small waiting area near the nursery.

For safety reasons, please do not bring food or drinks into the Nursery. Water in a sealed container is permitted.

The Butterfly Card scheme assists families where babies are admitted to NICU for an anticipated period of more than a week

Please ask the Midwife/Nurse who is caring for your baby if you wish to see a Social Worker, Interpreter or Minister of Religion.

Meals for parents and caregivers are available from the Playdeck and Cafeteria.

Car parking is available on or near the hospital grounds.

It is important that all visitors wash their hands on entering and leaving the unit, and wipe over mobile phones with wipes available in NICU, or use the UV sanitiser located at the entrance to the nurseries.

Parents/Caregivers who are unwell must not visit NICU.

Contact

Phone

(08) 8161 7869

Email

paulinelowe@sa.gov.au

Fax

(08) 8161 7835

Research Activity

The WCH has an ongoing commitment to ethical research and evidence-based practice. Many research activities are conducted with support from the Neonatal staff.