Creche

King Eddy's Crèche is a free child-minding service based at King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH). It's located next door to the East Wing Clinic, on the Hensman Road side of the hospital.

The crèche is staffed by senior, qualified childcare workers who have a Senior First Aid certificate and a Working with Children Check.

Opening hours

Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)

First drop-off: 8.05am
Last pick-up: 3.45pm

Who can attend?

The crèche accepts children of parents/guardians who:

• Have a baby admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or Special Care Nursery (SCN)
• Have a booked Outpatient clinic appointment before 3pm

Only parents, guardian or emergency contact may sign a child in or out of the crèche.

The creche does not accept children of parents who:

• Have been admitted to a ward or are having a procedure in the Day Surgery Unit
• Are visiting a friend or relative who has been admitted to the hospital
• Are having an iron transfusion.

Children attending the crèche must be:

• Aged between two months (eight weeks) and six years (proof of age may be requested) and
• Well and free from illness.

Children may not attend if they have:

• Colds
• Continuous coughing
• Green runny nose
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Unexplained rash
• Ring worm
• Head lice or any other infectious illness.

Babies and children who are too sick to go to day care or school are too sick to attend the crèche. For the safety and wellbeing of others, staff have a right to refuse entry to sick children.

How long can my child stay at the crèche?

Outpatients – up to three hours (in any 24-hour period)

Visiting baby in the SCN/NICU – up to two hours (in any 24-hour period).

A child may spend up to a maximum of 12 hours per week in the crèche.

What do I need to do for my child’s crèche stay?

Parents/guardians need to:

• Make sure their child’s toileting needs have been met, eg: fresh nappy or have been to the toilet – crèche staff may call parent back to meet these needs if necessary.
• Spend just a few minutes settling their child in – parents are not permitted to remain in the crèche or crèche foyer.
• Be available to return to the crèche if their child is upset and can’t be consoled by staff, becomes unwell or has any other need which cannot be met by crèche staff.

What do I need to bring to the crèche?

• Nappies and wipes
• Prepared milk bottles
• Water bottle
• Healthy finger food snacks (ready to eat but no nuts)
• Pram for non-walkers
• Change of clothes.