Paediatric Rehabilitation Service

The Paediatric Rehabilitation Service provides a specialist tertiary level rehabilitation service for children and adolescents who have functional limitations as a result of injury or illness, to ensure they return to active participation in their home and the community. The service works collaboratively with the National Child Rehabilitation Service at the Wilson Centre to provide a range of rehabilitation services to children and adolescents living throughout New Zealand.

For health professionals seeking general advice and enquiries around referral to the Paediatric Rehabilitation Service, phone (09) 307 4949 ext 22651 or email paediatricrehabilitation@adhb.govt.nz

Who we are

The Paediatric Rehabilitation Service are a team of highly skilled professionals who work within an interdisciplinary model of care based around the child or adolescent's stage of rehabilitation, needs and goals. Team members include paediatrician, nurse specialist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech language therapist, clinical neuropsychologist and psychiatrist.

Services we provide

Advisory Service
Specialist advice is provided to health professionals, current patients and their families, usually by telephone or email.

Inreach Service
Patients are consulted or managed in a shared care arrangement in the acute inpatient setting in Starship Hospital. Early rehabilitation is provided by an interdisciplinary team, including ongoing review and advice as required.

Community Inpatient Service
The Community Inpatient service is delivered primarily by the National Child Rehabilitation Service based at the Wilson Centre. We work collaboratively to provide a rehabilitation programme that supports children and adolescents transitioning back to their community.

Reassessment Service
Reassessment services comprise non-inpatient services in the form of day stay, outpatient and outreach services. Paediatric Rehabilitation clinics are generally held at the Wilson Centre.

Specialised Rehabilitation Programme
Specialist review of spasticity and movement disorders management including Botulinum toxin clinics.

Referring to the service

Referrals to the Paediatric Rehabilitation Service are accepted for children and adolescents living throughout New Zealand up to 15 years of age. Paediatricians, Medical and Surgical Specialists and ACC can refer to the service.

Rehabilitation services are provided for patients with the following conditions:

  • Traumatic and Acquired Brain Injury

  • Spinal Cord Injury and disease

  • Acquired neurological injury or illness eg Guillain-Barré Syndrome

  • Cerebral Palsy and other similar conditions

How to refer

To refer to the inpatient services, please contact the On-Call Rehabilitation Paediatrician via the Starship Hospital operator (09) 3074949 to discuss the referral. The Rehabilitation Paediatrician is available to discuss referrals Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm.

To refer to the outpatient services, please write a referral addressed to Paediatric Rehabilitation Service (Outpatient Referral), and email to paediatricrehabilitation@adhb.govt.nz

For general enquiries, or if there is uncertainty about the need for a referral, you can contact the team on (09) 3074949 ext 22651 for more information or send your enquiry by email to paediatricrehabilitation@adhb.govt.nz

For enquiries about the National Child Rehabilitation Service at the Wilson Centre, you can contact the service on (09) 488 4688 or refer to their website for more information  https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/wilson-centre-for-children.

Information for patients and families

See the video below for a tour of the National Child Rehabilitation Service at the Wilson Centre