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.