The Children’s Critical Care Unit (CCCU) at Gold Coast University Hospital is part of our Women and Children’s services. The unit takes care of children from birth to 16 years old. Children who stay in the CCCU are unwell or have had surgery. The CCCU has two beds for children who need intensive care. These beds can also be used as four high-dependency beds if needed.

The CCCU is on level 4, next to the adult intensive care unit. The CCCU has doctors, nurses, and other staff who take care of children who are unwell. Children stay in the CCCU when they are sick with health problems or after surgery. The CCCU also cares for babies who are getting better after being in the newborn intensive care unit. The doctors, nurses and allied health staff use the best equipment and materials in the hospital to care for the children in CCCU.

We care for children from the Gold Coast and Northern New South Wales. Sometimes, we also care for children from the Queensland Children’s Hospital (QCH) if QCH is at capacity. The CCCU is ready to help children with many health problems. Sometimes, we need to send children to another hospital if they have a certain health problem. For example, children with heart problems may go to the QCH Children’s Intensive Care Unit for special care.

Each year, about 350–400 children get care in our unit. The CCCU has approval from the College of Intensive Care Medicine (CICM) to train doctors in children’s intensive care.

We care for families as well as children. Parents and carers are welcome to be part of their child’s treatment. We work with other children’s and specialist services at GCUH to give the best care. If children need more help, we make sure they can move to the right hospital easily to get what they need.