Auckland children's hospital sees significant uptick in admissions

Middlemore's Kidz First Children's Hospital in Auckland's south is experiencing its busiest year in two decades.

Recent figures show more than 300 children have been hospitalised each month of this year, which is well above average admissions.

Speaking to Breakfast this morning, clinical director at Kidz First Hospital Dr Richard Matsas said kids are being admitted for a variety of illnesses.

"What stands out is the high number of respiratory conditions there's been, things like bronchiolitis, chest infections, pneumonia are considered winter ailments but we're seeing them at this time of the year so it does make us wonder what the winter ahead will be like."

Matsas said a lot of viruses have changed globally since Covid. He said they were supressed during the pandemic but now they're quite unpredictable.

"You normally think of it as a winter virus not a summer virus. Normally we would have relief over summer but now it's all year round."

He said the increased admissions are "multifactorial" and people should be concerned, or at the very least be aware as the colder months approach.

"Children that live in cold, drafty homes are more susceptible to infection, that's a fact. Parents tell us time and time again that they're very frustrated with the homes they live in. They struggle to heat those houses, they struggle to keep draughts at bay, to keep mould and condensation away.

"It's a big strain on families."

Matsas said children come to hospital, they are made better, but are then sent back to the homes that made them sick in the first place.

He said his message to parents is: "We need to wrap the kids up warm in bed as best we can, keep advocating to landlords to make homes insulated, sorting out draughts, sorting out curtains and heating the best we can."

Matsas added a lot of work has gone into getting kids in warm healthy homes, but there's still a lot more to do.

Dame Valerie Adams has put out an urgent call for 15,000 more pairs of pyjamas for South Auckland kids.

Dame Valerie, who's an ambassador for Middlemore Foundation's Jammies for June, told Breakfast new pyjamas have a significant impact on tamariki.

Jammies for June are giving warm pyjamas to children at Kidz First and the 76 primary schools the Foundation support through the Mana Kidz School Health programme.

Adams said: "It's my community, it's my people, I understand the struggle and I understand what they're living in and the conditions that they are living in and when you understand that and when you've lived it, you can feel their pain and you're more driven to do something about it.

"Last year our target was to get 10,000 pyjamas, this year it's to get 15,000 pyjamas. But it's not only that, it's blankets and people contributing to the cause, the ultimate goal is our babies."

Adams is urging people to donate. She said drop off locations can be found on the website.