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The PICU retrieval service has been in effect since 1992 with the formal introduction of Childflight in 1994 until August 14th 2003.
The service was maintained through Airwork and ARHT from August 15th 2003 until "Life Flight" Auckland took over as service provider on February 14th 2005.
Consultant-led, dedicated 24/7 service.
Our primary service area is Auckland and greater Auckland, with 45% of all transports completed taking place here.
The remaining 55% is split nationally and internationally, with the majority of transports occurring from referring centres elsewhere in the North Island (most children live in or north of Wellington).
Approximately 300 missions per year:
- 85%-90% direct PICU admission
- 65% transport by air - fixed wing or helicopter
- 35% transported by road

The PICU Transport Team

The PICU transport team is the only transport system in the country dedicated exclusively to children, from birth to 15 years of age.

Transport Co-ordinator: Kris Caton
Specially trained transport nurses who have:
- extensive neonatal / paediatric critical care experience
- additional training in Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS), trauma, critical care transport and flight nursing (essential that all transport nurses have completed both an APLS and flight nurse course, and recommended that they have ICU certification)
- completion of annual safety and survival courses, including a HUET's course (helicopter underwater escape training)
Transport physician - PICU Registrar / Fellow / Consultant
Other specialist physicians, e.g. Neurosurgeon, Cardiologist or Cardiac/Ortho/General Surgeon - determined by patient location and condition.

All modes of transportation move patients quickly to PICU at Starship Children's Hospital. Transport can be provided via:

Our state of the art PICU transport systems are equipped with:

Paediatric Intensive Care Retrievals

Advances in paediatric intensive care and the regionalisation of tertiary services often requires inter-hospital transport of critically ill / injured children.
Access to tertiary care may depend on the availability of an APPROPRIATE inter-hospital transport service.
Retrieval of critically ill / injured children:
- Creates challenges rarely encountered in the hospital environment
- Certain patient conditions stable on the ground can rapidly become life-threatening at altitude
- Early recognition and aggressive treatment of potential problems is paramount

The PICU Aim

Provide expert advice to the referring hospital
Provide essential service to speed the delivery of specialised PICU care
Provide medical management and expertise to stabilise and transport critically ill / injured children

The referring hospital, the PICU retrieval team and the receiving hospital should always have the same goal:

"Working together in the best interest of the patient"

For general information, please email the Transport Co-ordinator, Kris Caton.

NB: All referrals need to be made by a Consultant at the Referring Hospital direct to the PICU Consultant on call.