Care of Children in Healthcare Facilities Without Dedicated Paediatric Facilities
Facilities that are not dedicated to the care of children should develop a policy for the anaesthesia, surgery, and nursing of paediatric patients.
Definitions
Key definitions:
- Infant
Child less than 12 months old. - Neonate
Child less than 28 days old.
Training and Experience
- Anaesthetists should not be required to provide anaesthesia care without regular enough clinical exposure to maintain competence
- Anaesthesia assistants and nurses must be trained in the care of children
Equipment
- Climate control and warming devbices
- Appropriate equipment for the needs of infants
- Monitoring equipment
- Separate ward capable to care for children and families
Criteria for Transfer
Policy should cover transferral to a paediatric centre. Consideration should be given to transferring:
- Neonates
- Infants born ⩽ 37 weeks with a post-conceptual age of ⩽52 weeks
- Infants with a history of apnoeas
- ASA ⩾ III