History
Most hospitals need to send their sickest babies and children to specialist centres for expert care. In NSW and the ACT, only 10 hospitals have intensive care for babies and just 3 have paediatric intensive care.
During the journey from a country hospital or suburban hospital, sick children can deteriorate and some travel can even be fatal.
Sending an expert clinician from a children's hospital was one way of reducing this risk. Resuscitation and stabilisation by this doctor could be life-saving.
However, such personnel are not always available given the demands of their own hospital patients. The use of skilled assistance prior to transport improves the chance of survival of premature infants.
1977
The foundations of NETS were laid with the construction of a life support unit for babies. Staff from the ICU at the Prince of Wales Children's Hospital (POWCH) developed a neonatal transport system based on a bespoke ventilator (P0) and the purchase of a specially modified Ford F250 ambulance by Variety Club to carry this very heavy unit.
In the late 70s, an emergency neonatal transport was developed in northern Sydney, bringing sick babies from surrounding hospitals to the new neonatal intensive care unit (ICU) at Royal North Shore Hospital.
1979
The first transport of a critically ill newborn baby by helicopter was made from Taree to Sydney. Unfortunately, the baby later died of a serious heart condition.
This was a prompt to place more emphasis on providing skilled advice from specialist clinicians, to assist doctors provide better treatment and earlier referral.
1982
NETS transported a tiny baby born to Australian parents in the USA to Australia. The technical challenge of achieving this task safely significantly improved the equipment used within Australia.
Neonatal intensive care units in Newcastle and Westmead also developed a capacity for neonatal transport at this time. The units extended themselves to provide staff and equipment to outlying hospitals.
1989
Child Flight, the world's first dedicated helicopter, was launched to support neonatal and paediatric transport teams in Sydney. The service allowed transport teams to assist sick or injured patients rapidly.
The helicopter permitted one or two babies to be carried in NETS’ life support equipment at three times the speed of ground transport.
Child Flight operated until 2013, when it was replaced by CareFlight as the air provider for NETS.
1995
In October 1995, all neonatal and paediatric programs in the state were amalgamated under one banner and location to form the new ‘statewide’ NETS.
Doctors and nurses from hospitals across NSW and the ACT could now call one number for their sick or injured patients.
2007
NETS obtains legislated status of an ‘ambulance service’ enabling NETS to use dedicated ambulances operated directly by the service.
2008
Satellite services were formalised for ACT and regional areas of NSW (NETS ACT) and the Hunter (NETS Hunter). These services are staffed by NETS emergency vehicle operators and equipped with NETS neonatal life support systems.
Clinical staff from the neonatal Intensive Care Units of Canberra and John Hunter Children’s Hospital provide the clinical teams.
2012
A purpose-built base for NETS clinical and operations was constructed at Westmead Hospital. It included helicopters dedicated to supporting the rapid response of NETS teams to hospitals across most of NSW.
2017
NETS relocated to Bankstown Aerodrome to enable new hospital developments on the Westmead campus.