The PICU Retrieval Service
About the service
The Starship PICU (Paediatric Intensive Care Unit) Retrieval Service is a well established retrieval service that is based out of the PICU at Starship Child Health, the only tertiary paediatric hospital in New Zealand.
Geographically the service covers all of New Zealand and on occasion retrievals are also made from the Pacific Islands, bringing sick children to Starship Child Health for specialist care. The service also performs road retrievals within the greater Auckland area.
We endeavour to provide a 24/7 service however there are some variables that impact on our ability to respond.
On average the Starship PICU Retrieval Service performs 250- 300 transports per year. This service is dedicated to the TamaAriki of New Zealand who require a specialist intensive care paediatric team to transport them.
The service works closely with:
New Zealand Air Ambulance Service (Skyline Aviation) - flying in a pressurised King Air Turboprop or a Nextant Jet
Northland Rescue Helicopter Ltd (NRHL) – flying in AW169
St John ambulance service
When to contact PICU
To refer a child for retrieval, or to give a forewarning for a possible retrieval, contact the PICU consultant on call:
All referrals ideally need to be made by a consultant at the referring hospital.
Time-critical retrievals
Some retrievals are considered time critical. Here the retrieval service aims to mobilise within an hour, and when necessary will take additional medical personnel to perform the necessary medical intervention at the referring hospital.
Paediatric ECMO retrievals comprise a team of a PICU consultant, PICU retrieval nurse, cardiac surgeon, perfusionist and +/- an operating theatre nurse.
The transport team
Regardless of the severity of the patient’s illness the retrieval team is made up of a PICU physician and a PICU retrieval nurse.
Retrieval team nurses receive specialised training in retrieval medicine and logistics. Transport nurses must have spent at least two years in the Starship PICU gaining experience in looking after all types of critically ill children.
Contact us
All referrals need to be made by a consultant at the referring hospital direct to the PICU consultant on call.
Transport Nurse Specialists:
Di Fuller
Email: DianeF@adhb.govt.nz
Phone: +64 21 182 6850
Jess Hart
Email: jessicah@adhb.govt.nz
Phone: +64 21 917 962
Transport Medical Lead:
Dr. Alex Hussey
Email: AHussey@adhb.govt.nz
Mail to:
Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
Starship Child Health
Private Bag 92-024
Auckland, New Zealand