Services
Heartline
Our quarterly newsletter to members, which contains interesting stories, updates from Ward 23B at Starship Children's Hospital, handy tips, latest news from the medical world and general information that our readers often ask for.
Heart Children Handbook
This is a well-written handbook for parents of children with heart conditions. It is our aim that every family with a 'heart child' receives a copy of this book at the time their child is diagnosed, which of course involves national distribution. Many health professionals find this a valuable tool also, in helping to explain a diagnosis to parents.
Teacher's Handbook
This handbook is as a result of a joint initiative between Heart Children NZ Inc and teachers from the Northern Hospitals School. It is a useful handbook for educators of children with heart conditions. Parents find it an invaluable tool for answering all those 'health' questions on school forms.
Family Matches
We run a database of families who have specified their child's particular heart condition. When requested, we match families whose children have similar heart conditions and put them in touch with each other, as a means of self-support. This proves to be a vital service, especially for those families whose child is newly diagnosed.
Medical Alert Bracelets
Heart Children has just introduced a new service to their members with a free Stainless Steel Medical Alert Bracelet for any members Heart Child.
If you would like to utilize this service, please contact Margaret O' Sullivan at the National Office.
Branch Network
We have approximately twenty-two branches, or support groups, throughout New Zealand. This provides the basis of our 'grass roots' support for families in their hometowns. We provide the branches with the necessary tools to operate under our constitution and maintain uniformity of our organisation. A monthly newsletter is sent to all our branches to keep them current with all the national and other branches activities.
National Conference
A national conference is held every second year, aimed at parents of children with heart conditions.The last conference was held in Wellington in October 2005.
For further details Click Here
Family Accommodation while at Starship
Through our partnership with Ronald McDonald House Auckland Trust, families whose children are being treated at Starship, are provided accommodation at Ronald McDonald House. Contact your home hospital social worker to request an accommodation booking at Ronald McDonald House, or alternatively contact Starship Booking Office on (09) 307 4949 extn 23619.
Travel Assistance
for the second parent/guardian to travel to Starship Children's Hospital
If you need to travel to Starship for your child to receive treatment in the Paediatric Cardiac Unit, we may be able to assist the second parent/guardian to get there.
Contact us for more information about how we may be able to help - Telephone (09) 377 9950 or free phone 0800 543 943 and ask for Margaret,
or email us at heartchildren@heartchildren.org.nz
Zipper Kidz™ Club
A special club for children with heart conditions aged from 0 to 18 years. Visit the club on our site through the Heart Kids or Homepage on the navigation bar below, OR click this Button to the right.
"Camp Brave Hearts" & "Teen Camp"
These two popular camps cater for a range of our heart kids from 8 to 19 year old, and are an opportunity for our children & teenagers to mix and participate with their peers, getting to know others with similar experiences and challenges.
Ward 23B at Starship Children's Hospital
Ward 23B is the 24 bed-paediatric cardiac unit, the only specialist unit of its kind in New Zealand. Filipa Topaz is our hospital & Ward 23B liaison, visits the ward each day to distribute the information packs to newly admitted families, visit the parent area, liaise with the Ward staff and generally provide practical help to families where possible. This may be a trip to the supermarket, a group support meeting or activities for the children.
We also provide:
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parent recreation lounge and kitchen
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information folders to assist with orientation to Starship Hospital and environs
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school holiday programme
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child fun packs to help entertain your child while restricted to staying in bed
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mini pages while your child is in surgery and during their stay in intensive care
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video camera and photographic equipment
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breast pumps
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regular coffee mornings
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extra equipment and furniture for use on the Ward.
Anti-coagulant machines
If your heart child is taking Warfrin and suffering from the regular venous blood tests, contact us for information about our anti-coagulant programme. This programme is open to any heart child in New Zealand.
Heart Children Van
A bus service at Starship to transport children and their families to local shopping centres and entertainment venues.