Victoria’s sickest infants are now being cared for in a brand new $6.3m neonatal unit at The Royal Children’s Hospital. 

Premier Steve Bracks and Minister for Health Bronwyn Pike officially opened the unit today and met families and babies during a tour of the unit.

The unit has moved to the 3rd floor of the RCH and has more rooms with fewer babies in each room.  The rooms provide more space to accommodate the large amount of monitoring equipment that surrounds each baby.  Each room has designated staff and family space with comfortable seating for parents beside their babies.  A parent retreat, quiet room and accommodation for post-natal mothers is located nearby.

State government provided $5.3m towards the new unit as part of the interim works project at RCH.  This project ensures the hospital maintains a safe standard of care until the new hospital is built.

Additional funding was provided by Celebration of Life, a fundraising group established by actor, the late Sophie Clarke after her baby was cared for in the NNU.  The Sony Foundation has also provided funding.

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