Collections with babies (aged 3 – 18 months

“I brought my daughter in for a blood test and ECG, she is three months old. We struggled to find her vein as she was quite dehydrated, so [the manager] helped and took us over to the public hospital where [the collector] managed to take the blood successfully and do the ECG. They were both fantastic and we could not have done this without [their] help. [The manager] even went down to orthotics because my daughter wears a hip brace so doing the ECG with that on would have been tricky. He managed to get one of the orthotics team to come and assist so we could do the ECG and they could take the harness off properly. Thank you so much for making such a traumatic experience a little easier for a first-time mum and her tiny little bub”

• Introduce ourselves to the parent(s) • Let the parent/caregiver know they’re in control and can stop at any time • Stay calm, to put the child and parent/caregiver at ease • Check if the parent can hold their child (not all parents can)

While many of the same principles apply for collections with older children, here are some differences:

• It takes time collecting from this age group, only senior experienced collectors should collect from this age group • An extra collector may be required in the room to secure the child firmly throughout the procedure • Communication with the patient will be different for babies versus older children

As Rajeshwari from Westmead shares “With paediatric collections, having excellent technical skills and experience helps in addition to having an extra collector in the room to provide a helping hand.”

What helps

Have the room and collection equipment set up so you can help minimise the anxiety of the parent/carer.

Gain consent from the parent/carer. Explain the procedure and what is expected before obtaining an informed consent.

Be mindful that the parent may be experiencing anxiety

over the collection or diagnosis. This can be particularly true for new parents. Always be professional, respectful, and caring when carrying out the procedure.

Acknowledge the parent’s/carer’s fears, concerns

or emotions. It can be hard for parents to watch this procedure on their young baby, so consider them and comfort them where you can.

Provide advice on post collection care. This advice will provide support and guidance for the parent/carer, especially if it is the first time they have presented for collections for their young baby.

What hinders

Commencing the procedure without explaining what is

involved. Ensure you explain the procedure and what is involved to the parent/carer before gaining consent.

Rushing and not giving the parent or carer time to ask

questions. Take the time to explain the procedure to the parent/carer and answer their questions or concerns.

Attempting the collection if you don’t feel comfortable

or confident. As mentioned above, only senior experienced collectors should collect from this age group.

Not appearing confident and knowledgeable. This can increase a parent/carer’s stress or anxiety over the procedure.