Children's high care unit — Canterbury

To contact the high care unit, call 03 364 0640

Parents and caregivers can visit the unit at any time. The unit is open for other visitors from 8am to 8pm.

High care is at:

High care
Level 1
Waipapa
Christchurch Hospital

Access to children's high care is through the entrance to the intensive care unit.

Children's High Care map

We provide an 8 bed unit that provides close monitoring of your child's condition. We connect your child to a bedside monitor that captures:

• heart rate
• respiration rate
• oxygen levels
• blood pressure.

This information is reviewed by nursing and medical staff.

We will introduce you to your child's nurse and discuss their care and treatment when they are admitted.

Meals will be provided for your child. Tea, coffee and toast is provided for the parent or caregiver who is living in. You can ask your nurse about meal options for caregivers. We support breastfeeding mothers with equipment for expressing and for breast milk storage.

Whānau room and parent lounge

The ward has a whānau room with tea, coffee and microwave facilities.

On Level 7, there is the Ronald McDonald parent lounge located just outside the B7 ward. The lounge has a washing machine and dryer.

Rooms to stay

Each room has:

• reclining chairs
• a television with freeview
• a remote with a nurse call button.

Four of the rooms have ensuite bathrooms.

Activity room

The activity room is a licensed education centre. It provides education resources for children staying on the ward from birth to 16 years old.

The activity room is staffed by registered teachers and hospital play specialists. They are available on request and provide:

• distractions from procedures and medical interventions
• support for anxiety and fears
• help with settling into the hospital environment.
• developmentally appropriate distractions for procedures and medical interventions
• support for anxiety, fears and settling into the hospital environment.