Health Services > Services by Hospital and Facility > Townsville Health Service District

Paediatric Ward

About the Paediatric Unit

Located on the ground floor of The Townsville Hospital, the paediatric ward is a 23-bed, generalist unit which sees around 2000 children under the age of 16 each year. The unit admits patients with a wide range of medical needs including infectious diseases and contains two positive-pressure rooms to accommodate patients requiring oncology treatment.

With five staff paediatricians, two visiting paediatricians and two paediatric surgeons, The Townsville Hospital's paediatric unit is the resource unit for the region as well as being responsible for training doctors and nurses in various specialties. The unit works very closely with a multidisciplinary team including paediatric social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists. The unit also collaborates with other children's services such as Child, Youth and Family Health and Children's Development Services. The Paediatric Nursing Outreach Service for children, which facilitates early discharges and supports children and their families in the community, is also available seven days per week.

The reach of the unit is not limited to Townsville, with patients from across the Townsville Health Service District using our services. Ronld McDonald House and Red Cross House are available on the hospital campus to provide extra accommodation for those families not based in Townsville.

The Townsville Hospital's paediatric unit is a secure area where families have open access visiting all day until 8:00pm and parents are welcome to stay overnight at the child's bedside on a fold-out sofa or mattress. Parents have access to shower and toilet facilities as well as a parents' lounge with a microwave, fridge and tea-and-coffee-making facilities.

A school room for children is also available in the unit for both patients and their siblings who have an expected stay of more than four days. This service is provided by a teacher who works four days per week. The school is closed on Thursdays.

Further information can be obtained from the class teacher on (07) 4433 2538

Click here to see location on floor plans.

For more information please visit The Townsville Hospital Paediatric Ward services page