Special Care Nursery

What we do

We also care for unwell babies who can be treated and stabilised, or if required transferred to a level 3 nursery (Tertiary Nursery) for further intensive management.

We have specially trained nurses and midwives, a paediatric registrar and a consultant paediatrician as part of our team.

Other services include:

• social work and other allied health services
• established links to community care services
• breastfeeding support

The babies may also be referred to our paediatric outpatient clinic for ongoing care and supervision if required.

Alfred Health's Special Care Nursery is run in partnership with Monash Health, find out more about the Monash Women’s.

Who we care for

The Special Care Nursery takes babies from 32 weeks gestation and caters for a range of babies needs.

Babies are admitted either via the Emergency Department or directly from a clinic or community service after discussion with our on-call paediatrician.

What to bring

Every time you come

• Medicare card
• Health Care Card and/or concession card (if you have one)
• Private health insurance card (if applicable/if you want to use it)
• Adverse drug alert card (if you have one)
• Previous X-ray films, scans, ultrasounds or any other test results or reports
• Medicines you need to take while you are here
• List of medicines you are currently taking (or the boxes), including medicines you have bought without a prescription, such as herbal supplements and vitamins
• Glasses, hearing aid(s) and/or walking frame if needed

For an overnight (or longer) stay

• Dressing gown and slippers, or comfortable day clothes and shoes
• Personal hygiene items, such as shampoo, shaving equipment, toothpaste and deodorant
• Something to do, like a book to read, a magazine or an iPad or tablet with headphones

What not to bring for an overnight (or longer) stay

• Your handbag, wallet, purse or large amounts of cash
• Valuables, such as jewellery or watches