The Emergency Department
The Emergency Department operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We see around 58,000 children each year, ranging from newborns to teenagers.
1: How do I send a child to the Emergency Department?
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Children referred by a GP will undergo exactly the same triage processes as children self-presenting.
- There is no fast-track service for children referred.
Accelerated Care through Emergency (ACE)
- This programme identifies children who frequently present to the Emergency Department (ie four times or more in one year). Their presentations are managed by either preventing or fast tracking admission through the hospital.
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Tel (03) 9345 6159
Other paediatric emergency services
- There may be suitable paediatric emergency services at a hospital closer to you / the family. Please consider these options also.
2: Advice for parents
Where is the RCH Emergency Department?
- Printable map for parents to find the Emergency Department
- View Larger Map (google maps)
Triage
- Children will always be seen immediately by a triage nurse. The triage nurse decides how quickly each child must see a doctor.
- This means children who come in after your child may be seen first if their condition is considered more urgent by the triage nurse.
- See DHS website on Emergency care.
Waiting times in the ED
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Waiting times may vary considerably depending on the time of day, how busy the department is and if there are any emergencies at the time.
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The quietest times are usually mornings.
Seeing a specialist
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In the ED (Emergency Department), children may see a consultant or they may see a junior doctor under the supervision of the consultant.
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Referrals from ED to out-patients are triaged exactly the same as referrals from GPs and the community.
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A child referred by a GP will be triaged within the ED in the same way as self-presenting children / families.
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Coming to emergency will not help fast-track children within the hospital system.
More information
- See the RCH Emergency Department webpage