NETS
Encyclopedia
NETS is an acronym for newborn emergency transport service or system. Such services provide critical care transport for newborn babies requiring care not available in the hospital of birth. Some provide other services; such as outreach education, return transport and coordination of high-risk obstetric transfer. Others provide transport services in older age-groups (infants and children).
NETS (Victoria) is the emergency transport service for newborn babies in the state of Victoria, parts of southern NSW and northern Tasmania. The base of operations and clinical coordination centre is at the Royal Women's Hospital
in Carlton
, Victoria
. Outreach education services are also provided throughout the state of Victoria. All newborn patients needing intensive care in Victoria are transported to one of 4 neonatal ICUs by NETS (Victoria). Hotline 1300 137 650.
NETS (NSW) is the emergency transport service for babies (and children) for the state of NSW. Starting originally as a service for newborns in 1979, the service expanded to include infants and children in 1995 and now treats and transports older children up to the age of 16 years. The service's clinical coordination centre takes calls from physicians in any of over 240 hospitals and a number of private surgical facilities. Clinical advice is provided and critical care transport teams are launched, as required, by road or air. Newly born patients are moved to one of 10 neonatal ICUs in NSW and the ACT
. Infants and children are transported to one of 3 pædiatric ICUs. Calls are also received seeking assistance with emergency transfer of high risk obstetric patients. Clinical conference call techniques are used to make decisions about these obstetric transfers. Medical retrieval teams, a fleet of purpose-built ambulances and two multi-engined, IFR helicopters are housed within the Base to provide rapid response to clinical emergencies. Hotline 1300 36 2500. In addition, satellite services operate in the ACT
and the Hunter region of NSW for the transport of newborn infants by road. NETS operates a fleet of 8 ambulances from these three bases.
NETS (Virginia) is a service of the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville VA (USA). Ground and air vehicles are used to transport sick babies from 30 surrounding hospitals. For emergency transport, call the nICU on (434) 924 2335.
QNETS is a service established in Queensland
, Australia
in 2007 which coordinates hospital-based transport services for newborns, children and maternity cases between hospitals in the southern part of that state.
WA NETS operates in Western Australia
. Previously known as WANTS (Western Australia Newborn Transport Service), the newly-named (2008) Service continues emergency transport of newborns in WA under the more generic term 'NETS'
NETS (Victoria) was established in 1976 after government reports showed an alarming number of deaths occurring during or after 'mercy dash' transfers of newborn infants by ambulance. The service which covers the state of Victoria in southern Australia, pioneered the provision of newborn transport in Australia.
NETS (NSW) evolved in the mid 1970's at two hospitals in Sydney
and other hospitals progressively developed the capacity for newborn transport
in subsequent years. In 1995 separate services based at 5 hospitals were amalgamated to create a single statewide service of NSW Health. As well as newborns, this service also transports infants and children. Since that time, all calls for emergency transport of newborn infants and children throughout NSW (from preterm infants to adolescents) are coordinated by NETS.
NETS UK was established during 2011 and is due to be officially launched during May 2011.
Helicopter transport is provided by Child Flight to NETS NSW and Victorian Air Ambulance to NETS Victoria.
Fixed wing aircraft operated by the RFDS transport NETS teams and equipment over longer distances. International missions use chartered jets, Air Force transport aircraft or commercial airliners.
NETS (Victoria) is the emergency transport service for newborn babies in the state of Victoria, parts of southern NSW and northern Tasmania. The base of operations and clinical coordination centre is at the Royal Women's Hospital
Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne
The Royal Women's Hospital, located in the Melbourne suburb of Parkville, is Australia's largest specialist women's hospital, offering a full range of services in maternity, gynaecology, neonatal care and women's health. It also offers complementary services such as social work, physiotherapy and...
in Carlton
Carlton, Victoria
Carlton is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. Outreach education services are also provided throughout the state of Victoria. All newborn patients needing intensive care in Victoria are transported to one of 4 neonatal ICUs by NETS (Victoria). Hotline 1300 137 650.
NETS (NSW) is the emergency transport service for babies (and children) for the state of NSW. Starting originally as a service for newborns in 1979, the service expanded to include infants and children in 1995 and now treats and transports older children up to the age of 16 years. The service's clinical coordination centre takes calls from physicians in any of over 240 hospitals and a number of private surgical facilities. Clinical advice is provided and critical care transport teams are launched, as required, by road or air. Newly born patients are moved to one of 10 neonatal ICUs in NSW and the ACT
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
. Infants and children are transported to one of 3 pædiatric ICUs. Calls are also received seeking assistance with emergency transfer of high risk obstetric patients. Clinical conference call techniques are used to make decisions about these obstetric transfers. Medical retrieval teams, a fleet of purpose-built ambulances and two multi-engined, IFR helicopters are housed within the Base to provide rapid response to clinical emergencies. Hotline 1300 36 2500. In addition, satellite services operate in the ACT
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
and the Hunter region of NSW for the transport of newborn infants by road. NETS operates a fleet of 8 ambulances from these three bases.
NETS (Virginia) is a service of the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville VA (USA). Ground and air vehicles are used to transport sick babies from 30 surrounding hospitals. For emergency transport, call the nICU on (434) 924 2335.
QNETS is a service established in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 2007 which coordinates hospital-based transport services for newborns, children and maternity cases between hospitals in the southern part of that state.
WA NETS operates in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. Previously known as WANTS (Western Australia Newborn Transport Service), the newly-named (2008) Service continues emergency transport of newborns in WA under the more generic term 'NETS'
History
NETS (Virginia) began in 1975.NETS (Victoria) was established in 1976 after government reports showed an alarming number of deaths occurring during or after 'mercy dash' transfers of newborn infants by ambulance. The service which covers the state of Victoria in southern Australia, pioneered the provision of newborn transport in Australia.
NETS (NSW) evolved in the mid 1970's at two hospitals in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and other hospitals progressively developed the capacity for newborn transport
Newborn transport
Newborn transport is used to move premature and other sick infants from hospitals without specialist, intensive care facilities require for optimal care of the baby to hospitals with neonatal intensive care and other specialist services...
in subsequent years. In 1995 separate services based at 5 hospitals were amalgamated to create a single statewide service of NSW Health. As well as newborns, this service also transports infants and children. Since that time, all calls for emergency transport of newborn infants and children throughout NSW (from preterm infants to adolescents) are coordinated by NETS.
NETS UK was established during 2011 and is due to be officially launched during May 2011.
Procedure
NETS use conference call techniques to connect calling doctors with one or more specialists relevant to the patient's condition. In this way, all aspects of the clinical problem are canvassed in one phone call without impairing the emergency response of the transport team.Vehicles
NETS use road ambulances specially fitted out for the task of loading and moving the heavy equipment needed for mobile intensive care. They feature easy loading systems and supplies of medical air as well as oxygen.Helicopter transport is provided by Child Flight to NETS NSW and Victorian Air Ambulance to NETS Victoria.
Fixed wing aircraft operated by the RFDS transport NETS teams and equipment over longer distances. International missions use chartered jets, Air Force transport aircraft or commercial airliners.