John Flynn Private Hospital
Part of Ramsay Health Care

Paediatric Service

John Flynn Private Hospital offers private paediatric services for local and visiting families to the Gold Coast.

The Paediatric Unit is run by a highly experienced paediatric nursing team and is serviced by the Gold Coast’s leading private Paediatric Specialists who are also on call should a paediatric emergency arise afterhours or present through the John Flynn Private Hospital Emergency Centre.

Facilities & Accommodation

The Hospital’s 6 bed Paediatric Unit features modern and comfortable private rooms, complete with television, air conditioning and ensuite bathroom, designed to accommodate a sick child and an accompanying parent, for an overnight stay in hospital.

The Paediatric Unit also boasts a Paediatric Day Recovery Unit conveniently co-located on the same level, with an outdoor playground and patient lounge areas accessible to both our paediatric inpatient and day procedure patients.

For Paediatric Emergencies please present to the John Flynn Private Hospital Emergency Centre Inland Drive Tugun or call 07 5598 9000.

Visiting Hours

Paediatric Unit Visiting Hours: 8:00am – 8:00pm (except Parents)

Early Parenting Program

John Flynn’s Paediatric Unit offers a multi-disciplinary, specialist child health service for families who require support and guidance with building skills and confidence in parenting, particularly with infant sleep and settling.

We provide a Paediatric nurse led program that works in partnership with families. We provide expert advice with issues such as irritability, reflux, feeding difficulties and settling babies. Our specialised team will work in partnership with your family to understand your concerns and needs. A thorough assessment will be taken and any medical concerns raised will be addressed with a Paediatrician.

Our responsive settling approaches are attachment theory based, building upon Circle of Security concepts to ensure gentle and responsive considerations to meet your baby’s needs. The focus throughout your stay is on enhancing your understanding of your baby’s development and cues, in addition to responsive feeding and settling approaches that will empower you to more confidently identify and positively respond to your baby’s needs.

Our service offers this intensive inpatient program for families with children aged from 8 weeks to 12 months in conjunction with follow up phone consultations.

We provide education and guidance involving:

  • Responsive settling
  • Responsive feeding
  • Breast feeding
  • Bottle feeding
  • Child development and behaviour

Your Stay

You and your baby will be cared for by our experienced Paediatric nurses under the guidance and support of the Paediatrician. Generally your stay here is 3 days. The first 24hrs allows for our dedicated staff to assess your child’s sleep and feeding patterns and to develop an individual plan.

During your stay here we provide all meals for you and your child. Our friendly staff will liaise with you regarding any special dietary requirements for your or your baby. We do advise parents to bring any items that their baby is currently using for feeding (ie bottles, teats, formula / expressed breastmilk), or sleeping (ie swaddle / sleeping bag, white noise machines and / or any other comfort items). Otherwise, families should pack appropriate personal items as they would for a weekend away from home.

Contact us for more information

Please contact us here at John Flynn Paediatrics 07 5598 9037 for more information, our experienced nurses are happy to assist you with arranging an admission.

Referrals

A referral from your GP, Paediatrician or other medical specialist is required. Email referrals to PaediatricEPP.jfp@ramsayhealth.com.au

Once we receive a referral, one of our nurses will be in touch with you to organise your stay.

Early Parenting Program FAQs

Do I need a referral to attend the Early Parenting Sleep and Settle Program?
Yes, a referral from your General Practitioner or a medical specialist is required for your baby. Where there are multiple births (ie twins), please complete one for each baby requiring admission. Once the referral form is completed, please ensure it is forwarded to our dedicated email account PaediatricEPP.JFP@ramsayhealth.com.au. One of our Paediatric Nurses will then get in touch with you regarding your referral.

Will my Private Health Insurance cover the cost of admission?
A wide range of Private Health Insurers provide coverage for admission to the Early Parenting Sleep and Settle Program, and we will undertake a health fund check prior to your admission. Self-funded options are also available and our team are happy to explore this with you. If you are unsure that your baby will be covered, please contact us and we’ll be happy to chat with you around progressing this with your Health Fund on 5598 9037.

How long is the Program?
Families typically stay with us for 3 days, arriving early on Saturday morning and staying through to Monday, with discharge usually after breakfast. An additional day may be offered where clinically required for more complex situations.

Do you use Cry It Out approaches in the Program?
No, we do not utilise Cry It Out approaches in our Program. Our responsive settling approaches are attachment theory based, building upon Circle of Security concepts to ensure gentle and responsive considerations to meet your baby’s needs at the time. The focus throughout your stay is on enhancing your understanding of your baby’s development and communication cues, in addition to responsive feeding and settling approaches that will enable you to confidently identify and respond to your baby’s needs.

Do I need to stay with my baby?
Our Paediatric Nurses are here to support you and your family through the issues you are experiencing and help you achieve your goals. During your stay, your family will continue to be responsible for the care of your baby with one parent remaining overnight as a Boarder Parent. Where there is more than one baby being admitted (eg twins), it is recommended that you organise for your partner or another support person to also stay overnight as the second baby’s Boarder Parent. Partners and support people are otherwise welcome to stay throughout the day and evening, however there is only sleeping accommodation for one Boarder Parent per baby overnight.

Can our family and friends visit us during our stay?
Visitors are welcome as per hospital visiting hours. We recommend that you ask any visitors to contact you before visiting to arrange a suitable time to visit, in case you are busy settling or participating in education sessions within the Unit. Visiting children must always be supervised by a responsible adult.

What do I need to bring with me for our stay?
Please pack appropriate clothing, toiletries, nappies etc for both your baby and you just like you would for a weekend away from home. If your baby is taking any medications, please bring these in their original labelled packaging as well.

Similarly, please bring any items your baby is currently using for feeding (ie bottles, teats, and formula), dummy (only if used), swaddles or sleeping bags, white noise and any comfort toys / items. It is always great to bring your pram or baby carrier with you too, so you can enjoy the beautiful gardens surrounding the hospital during the day.

Will meals be provided during our stay?
All meals and snacks will be provided to your baby (where age appropriate) and the Boarder Parent staying overnight.

Please bring your baby’s formula or expressed breast milk with you if these are applicable. Lunch and evening meals may also be provided to a second parent where they are staying for the day and evening to actively participate in the Program with the Boarder Parent – please discuss this with your Nurse. You are also welcome to bring any additional non-refrigerated snacks for you and your baby. Our friendly staff will liaise with you regarding any special dietary requirements for you and / or your baby during your stay also.

What facilities can we access during our stay?
A private room within our Paediatric Unit will be allocated to your baby as their primary sleep space, with a second room also allocated to each family to provide a space for daily activities / playtime and as a sleeping space for the Boarder Parent staying overnight. Where families are room-sharing at home, a parent bed is available in the baby’s room should a parent wish to room-share at night during their stay. Each room as an ensuite bathroom, with Wi-Fi and TV access included.

High-chairs, baby baths and cots are provided, along with associated linens. Families can explore the hospital gardens and Café, with access to a shared Lounge Room and dedicated outdoor playground on the Paediatric Unit.

What if we are unwell when we are due to come for our stay?
To make the most of your time with us, it is essential that everyone participating in the program is physically and emotionally well. If you or your baby (or someone in the household) have a temperature, cough or runny nose, vomiting or diarrhoea, rash or appear unwell in the 48 hours prior to your admission, please contact the Paediatric Unit. Similarly, if you or your baby become unwell during your stay you will be discharged, and another admission arranged.

Have a different question?

Our Paediatric Nurses are happy to have a chat with you and can be contacted through Ward 3B on 07 5598 9037.