Services for critical and emergency care of children in Victoria

Area of Science:

• Paediatric intensive care
• Health system reform
• Public health policy

Background:

• Child intensive care populations in Victoria have grown and changed significantly since the 1990s.
• Epidemiological, demographic, and social shifts, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, have strained existing services.
• The ultra-centralised model of paediatric intensive care from the 1990s is no longer adequate.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the inadequacy of current paediatric intensive care models in Victoria.
• To propose a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to reforming child critical and emergency care services.
• To inform the design of a future-fit system for paediatric critical care in Victoria.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of epidemiological and demographic trends impacting paediatric intensive care needs.
• Evaluation of the current state-wide paediatric intensive care service model.
• Identification of necessary reforms across service delivery, education, and system structure.

Main Results:

• Current paediatric intensive care services face daily pressure due to increased demand and changing patient profiles.
• Existing ultra-centralised models are insufficient to meet contemporary needs.
• A wide-ranging, multi-component strategy is required for effective reform.

Conclusions:

• Reforming paediatric critical and emergency care in Victoria requires increased capacity in regional centres and decentralisation of low-risk services.
• Improvements in medical and nursing education, alongside a structured state-wide system, are crucial.
• Future models must adapt to evolving disease patterns, social trends, and health practices.