SERIOUSLY ill infants will be treated in Canberra instead of interstate as part of an ACT Budget boost for The Canberra Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Over four years, $12.1 million will be used to expand the neonatal service with a new model of care that will increase the capacity for nurses to care for babies as well as a growth in service delivery. As part of the new model of care, seven nurses and a specialist will be employed in the new NICU that will be located at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
“The ACT NICU plays an essential role in meeting the healthcare needs of the region,” Chief Minister and Minister for Health Katy Gallagher said.
“The new NICU is the only unit of its type between Melbourne and Sydney.
“There is a continuing growth in demand for neonatal intensive care services in our region with birth rates increasing in the last three years by 18 per cent from 2344 to 2769. It is expected that this trend will continue.”
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