DEPARTMENT BACKGROUND

The Paediatric Department specialises in the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. The department is led by the Head of Department and supported by Specialists, Medical Officers, House Officers, and allied healthcare personnel.

DEPARTMENT COMPONENTS

• General Paediatric Ward
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
• Special Care Nursery (SCN)
• Paediatric High Dependency Ward (PHDW)
• Paediatric Outpatient Clinic (POPC)
  • General Paediatric Outpatient Clinic
  • Asthma Clinic
  • Bereavement Clinic
  • Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) Clinic
• Daycare Services
• Palliative Care Services

DEPARTMENT’S VISION

Children to obtain the highest attainable standard of healthcare; to promote wellness and prevention; and to offer comprehensive treatment as well as rehabilitation.

DEPARTMENT’S MISSION

To provide excellent quality medical care that is effective, appropriate, timely, and responsive to the needs of patients, families, and the community, delivered by a professional, trained, committed, and caring team.

DEPARTMENT’S OBJECTIVES

• Provide quality healthcare services efficiently and professionally—spanning diagnostic, curative, and rehabilitative care—to reduce morbidity and mortality, and to help children and families achieve and maintain optimal health.
• Empower and involve parents/guardians in their child’s care through health education to improve awareness and responsibility for children’s health.
• Strengthen holistic paediatric ambulatory care.

CLIENT CHARTER

• Patients shall receive treatment that is effective and appropriate to their health problems, irrespective of age, sex, ethnicity, religion, or socioeconomic status, delivered professionally.
• Patients shall be treated with utmost respect, care, politeness, and sincerity.
• Patients’ privacy and confidentiality shall be observed.
• Patients shall be cared for in a safe, pleasant, and clean environment.
• Patients and families shall receive clear and adequate information regarding illness, management (including treatment and procedures), and expected risks. Families and carers shall be empowered through education on continuity of care, health promotion, prevention, and rehabilitation.
• Patients requiring services unavailable at this hospital shall be referred to an appropriate hospital or health institution.
• Patients shall be reviewed within 90 minutes from the time of registration at the Paediatric Outpatient Clinic.

SCOPE OF SERVICES

• Provide health and medical services to children from newborn to 12 years of age (or up to 18 years for those with chronic illnesses), including:
  • Inpatient paediatric medical services
  • Outpatient paediatric medical services
  • Paediatric ambulatory/daycare services
  • Community and outreach paediatric services (e.g., paediatric palliative care, bereavement clinic)
• Training of doctors, nurses, and allied health personnel in general paediatrics and neonatology.
• Advocacy on issues related to child and adolescent health.
• Quality improvement activities; health systems and clinical research.