NETS' Activity

Case numbers

NETS calls are centrally coordinated via the NETS Line: 1300 36 2500. There were 4,169 calls in 2014. To date in 2015, there have been 3,879 calls so it looks like 2015 will be a similarly busy year.

The key principles are: a single point of access, the call to NETS is the one and last call referring clinicians need to make, every call is taken by a senior medical retrieval consultant, its about the patient not the logistics, and finally, the urgent response of a team is activated without regard to where or whether the destination.

NETS completed 2,745 missions in 2014 from bases in Sydney, Canberra and Newcastle. To date in 2015, there have been 2,071 retrievals and 269 return transfers

As this table shows, our work has been steadily increasing since amalgamation to the combined neonatal and paediatric service in 1995. Of particular interest is the increasing proportion of cases where a NETS team isn't required. This is mostly because the problem is resolved with consultation without transfer or transfer to a regional hospital. The central challenge we face is to ensure the babies and children who really need critical care and/or critical care transport receive the appropriate response and resources but at the same time the babies and children who can safely and predictably be helped in a simpler way receive just that response. Our processes and the skill of NETS' staff providing remote advice are now helped by telemedicine in making this distinction; thinking particularly of Vision for Life.

Recent monthly activity for November 2015.