Local parents support the need for a Children’s ED at Palmerston North Hospital

August 2022

A recently launched fundraising drive for a Children’s ED at Palmerston North Hospital is being supported by parents throughout the region. 

With an average of 650 children under the age of 17 attending Palmerston North ED each month, many families have first-hand experience of the need, including Palmerston North mum, Ellie Guest.

Last year, Ellie rushed her 22-month-old son, Wesley, to ED after he tripped over and split open his eyebrow on the corner of a bedside table. 

With his age, a potential concussion, an open wound that required stitches and concern about damage to his eye, Ellie was advised that it was important that he was treated within the Emergency Department rather than at an after-hours doctor.

“The staff in ED were absolutely amazing, but it was a long wait for a little kid.  He clearly needed to get stitches and there was some question about if that would require a general anaesthetic, but it’s an emergency department for a reason and there were lots of other people who really needed to be seen as well.”

“We ended up in ED for over nine hours. Once the initial shock wore off, he was understandably grizzly - and hungry as we couldn’t feed him or give him water for a few hours in case he required a general anaesthetic. He was in quite a state, with blood all down his face but he was also just a toddler that wanted to be busy; so was trying to explore amongst all these other people, including other people in the waiting room who were clearly unwell.”

The proposed children’s ED will have a separate child-friendly waiting room and treatment area, additional beds, and equipment and decor that will cater to the emotional and physical needs of ill and injured children.

Ellie says that she was lucky she had family close by to support them during their ED experience. 

“ I honestly don’t know how I would have coped if we didn’t have family living in Palmerston North who came up to help us while we waited.”

Ellie says that a Children’s ED would be life changing for whānau throughout the MidCentral rohe. 

“As a parent, if you have to bring your child to ED, you are already dealing with a lot of pressure. You are worried, scared and the adrenaline is kicking in. When you add in trying to keep injured or ill kids away from other people who are really unwell, keeping them quiet and still and calm in a new environment that’s not kid-friendly for hours on end - it’s a lot.”

“Having a dedicated space for sick and injured children will make such a huge difference to families and children who have to come into the ED.”

ENDS