See also Attendance at High Risk Deliveries

Paediatric resident medical staff and NS-ANP’s are available to attend at risk deliveries and compromised fetuses. Referrals should be made by the LMC attending the mother. In emergencies or situations of urgency, messages can be relayed through clerical staff.  Paediatric staff often have to prioritise calls, so accurate information is needed.

In most situations the 1^st call locator (usually a paediatric SHO, registrar, or NS-ANP) should be called. Except in the situations set out below when 2^nd call registrar or NS-ANP should attend, the 1^st call person is responsible for informing other paediatric staff if he/she wants them to attend as well. The registrar/NS-ANP will attend deliveries with a house surgeon at the beginning of a run, until the house surgeon is competent at resuscitation.

The paediatric registrar/NS-ANP will contact the specialist if his/her presence is indicated, unless there is a prior arrangement.

The paediatric service should be informed of labours likely to produce babies needing paediatric care. This communication would normally be to Paediatric Medical Staff. Referrals requesting paediatric input to the management of pregnancy/labour should be to specialists.

There may be other situations when a paediatric resident should be called. Any baby who has problems or is unwell should be referred to the paediatric service. Private doctors (GP or specialist) or independent midwives should either refer to the paediatric service when appropriate, or to a private paediatric specialist.

All three resident paediatric staff answer 777 emergency calls.  The 777 call does not go to the specialist on call - a request for specialist attendance will need to be directed through the operator.  If a specialist is required urgently, then contact them via their pager (and append with "*777") or their cell phone.