Neonatal physiotherapy after discharge from NICU / special care nurseries

Once discharged from Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or the special care nurseries (SCN), there are several neonatal physiotherapy opportunities available.

• Medical and physiotherapy clinic follow up
• Physiotherapy Preterm Developmental Enrichment Group
• Individual therapy
• Referral to community infant services

Medical and physiotherapy clinic follow up

The Neonatal Follow Up Program is coordinated for preterm babies 31+6 or under at birth, or other infants that are at risk of developmental delay.

Infants and their carers will be offered clinic appointments at term age, four months corrected age and eight months corrected age.

Your baby will be weighed and have their head size and body length recorded, be checked by the Child Health Nurse and physiotherapist, then see the doctor.

If your baby was transferred to another metropolitan hospital before you go home, they will still be enrolled in the Neonatal Follow Up Program (if your baby was delivered at 31+6 or earlier at KEMH).

Physiotherapy Preterm Developmental Enrichment Group

This free service is available for infants born at 31+6 weeks or under, who live in the metropolitan area and have a Medicare card.

All eligible infants are automatically invited by letter at around two months corrected age (i.e. two months after baby’s original due date).

There is a QR code on the letter for families to reply, and choose from their preferred time/day options.

The service is offered approximately every five to six weeks until your baby is 10 to 11 months corrected age.

If your baby needs additional support in developing movement or other skills after this time, referral to an appropriate service will be facilitated by the preterm group team.

If your baby was transferred to another metropolitan hospital before you go home, they will still be invited to the Preterm Developmental Enrichment Group (if your baby was delivered at 31+6 or earlier at KEMH).

Individual therapy

This may be offered on an individual basis where further assessment or support is needed and attending KEMH is the best option for the family.

Referral to community infant and children’s services

Where to get help in the community:

Child Development Service (CDS)

This is a free metropolitan community health service providing support for the development of movement skills, play skills, speech and language and learning skills (allied health support).

Find out more on the Child and Adolescent Health Service.

WA Country Health Service

WA Country Health Service (WACHS) provides a free rural allied health support.

If you have provided consent for referral to physiotherapy, your baby will be referred to WACHS child development service in the town nearest to where you live.

KEMH home visits

Free home visiting allied health support for at risk infants may also be available through our physiotherapy team will need to help you apply for this.

Please discuss your needs with your neonatal physiotherapist.