Role of Public Health Nurse (PHN) & GP

The role of the public health nurse (PHN)

Once you have been discharged from our hospital we will pass on your details to your local PHN. The PHN will contact you and arrange to visit you and your baby at home. This visit will normally take place within 48 hours of you leaving hospital.

The PHN will arrange to carry out weight and development checks on your baby until school going age. The PHN will give you lots of information about local support groups and services. If you are under the care of our community midwifery services (DOMINO and ETH) then your first visit with the PHN will be after the community midwife has finished caring for you and your baby – usually around seven days after the birth.

The role of the GP

If you attended your GP for ‘combined care’ during your pregnancy, you should take your baby for a health check to your GP at two and at six weeks of age.

Paediatric Support After Discharge

In the first two weeks after discharge if you have any concerns about your baby, such as feeding issues or issues relating to passing stool etc please ring this number 01 817 1728 between the hours of 08.00 – 15.30 to arrange an appointment in our Outpatients Dept in Hampson House if appropriate. After these hours you can call this number 01 817 1700 and the baby doctor will advise you where/when to get your baby seen. Please do not present to Outpatients without an appointment. If you have a concern you feel cannot wait and are worried it may be an emergency you should arrange for your baby to be reviewed in your nearest Paediatric Emergency Department. Please do not bring your baby to the Emergency Room in the Rotunda as this is not a Paediatric emergency area. If you live in Dublin this could include one of the following: CHI Temple St CHI Crumlin CHI Tallaght