Child & Family Unit
The Child and Family Unit (CFU) is a supra-regional acute psychiatric child and adolescent mental health inpatient unit hosted by Auckland District Health Board. It is located on level one of Starship Children's Hospital.
CFU admits young people aged from 13 - 18 with significant mental health concerns or suspected mental illness from the upper region of the North Island (north of and including Taranaki through to Cape Reinga). It is also the inpatient facility for children under 13 years for the North Island.
Within the same facility the Child and Family Unit also houses a specialist three-bedded Mother and Baby Unit which provides inpatient care to people living in Waitemata, Auckland, Counties Manukau and Northland.
Referral Expectations
Referrals to the Child and Adolescent inpatient unit are accepted from the specialist CAMHS teams in the region, or private child and adolescent psychiatrists.
In crisis, some young people are seen in Emergency Departments. All after hour admissions are processed through the on call child and adolescent psychiatrist covering CFU.
Referrals for the Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) are from the two metro Auckland Maternal Mental Health teams. These teams work Monday to Friday business hours only. There are no after hours or crisis admissions accepted into the MBU.