Coming to Emergency

Check the current activity status at Perth emergency departments, including PCH.

Everyone who attends the ED wants to be seen quickly and we will always try to complete your care as soon as we can.

There are times when we are particularly busy, and significant wait times can occur. Wait times in the evening tend to be the longest, so if you have a choice when to present to the emergency department, consider coming earlier in the day.

If your child has an urgent problem, you will always have a very short wait time, or may avoid the waiting room altogether.

The sickest children with the most urgent healthcare needs are seen first.

If you are required to spend any length of time in the waiting room, this is because your child’s condition is less urgent. We appreciate this can be frustrating and thank you for your patience and understanding. If you feel your child is getting worse while waiting, please inform a staff member. We will listen to you.

ED staff may not be able to estimate your wait time as this may change depending on the severity, urgency and number of patients in the department.

Perth Children’s Hospital is located at 15 Hospital Avenue, Nedlands, on the QEII Medical Centre campus.

If driving to hospital, use the patient set down area outside the ED entrance on Hospital Avenue (the southern end). Refer to the map below.

Parking is available at:

• Basement carpark – located at the southern end of PCH, accessible via Hospital Avenue
• UWA Car Park – directly across Hospital Avenue, south of Car Park 7, available 8pm–6am only
• Car Park 1 – outdoor carpark north of QEIIMC Multi-deck Car Park, entrance via Winthrop Avenue

Visit the Travelling to PCH page for more details.

If possible, please bring the following:

• Your Medicare card and any concession cards with your child’s details.
• Private health insurance details (if you would like your child admitted as a private patient).
• A list of your current medications and any recent health visit documentation.
• Any x-rays, ultrasounds, scans that may be related to your child’s condition.
• The name of your GP.
• For overseas visitors/students: your child’s passport and health insurance details.

When you go through to the triage waiting area in PCH ED, take a ticket from the check in kiosk.

When your number is called, you will see a specialist emergency triage nurse who will ask questions and assess the urgency of your child’s condition.

Once this assessment is complete, your child will be allocated a score on the triage scale.

You will then be taken through to the Pod waiting areas to be seen by a nurse or doctor.

Visit Welcome to ED for more details about the process after this point.

We need to know.

Please follow the Aishwarya’s CARE Call steps:

1. Worried about a change in your child’s condition? Tell us.
2. Still worried? Speak to a senior staff member.
3. If your concern is urgent, use the CARE Call phone in the Emergency Department or call 6456 0337.

You know your child best. We will listen to you.

CAMHS Crisis Connect is a dedicated urgent mental health support service for young people aged 17 years and under.

The free phone and online video service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 1800 048 636.

In addition to helping young people in crisis, CAMHS Crisis Connect can support families, carers and health professionals in the community.

CAMHS Crisis Connect provides expert advice to children and young people when they need it most. This includes:

• specialist urgent tele-mental health support
• crisis management
• mental health and risk assessment
• follow-up within 24 hours of receiving an assessment
• dedicated intervention / follow-up clinic.

Find out more about CAMHS Crisis Connect

Perth Children’s Hospital does not provide routine dental care.

A limited on-call emergency dental service is available via the PCH Emergency Department for dental emergencies only. These include:

• traumatic injuries to the teeth and gums
• significant bleeding from the teeth or gums that can't be controlled with pressure
• infection of the teeth or gums that is causing swelling of the cheek

Most children who attend our ED with toothache are discharged and directed to see a community dentist.

The PCH Dental Service for non-emergencies operates under strict eligibility criteria. Children who are not eligible to receive treatment through PCH’s Dental Department will be advised to follow-up through a community service.

Visit the Dental Health Services website for information about public dental services.

Button batteries and magnets stuck in the nose or ear are considered an emergency and should be seen in PCH ED as soon as possible. Please do not give your child anything to eat or drink in case they require surgery.

Most other objects (foreign bodies) stuck in the ear canal or the nose that are not causing pain are not considered an emergency and can safely wait to be seen in PCH ED during business hours.

We do not accept community referral for medical imaging at PCH ED.

Visit HealthDirect to find your closest radiology service.

If you present to ED with a new injury or illness that requires imaging, Emergency doctors can order X-rays 24 hours a day.

Other types of scans, including ultrasounds and CT scans, are performed only if clinically urgent. MRIs are rarely performed through the PCH Emergency Department, apart from exceptional critical cases.

The Emergency Department has a Neurodiversity Care Program available for families to access.

The Neurodiversity Care Plan is a questionnaire for caregivers to complete which provides information regarding communication, preferred sensory tools and other approaches to help us care for your child.

Any child can have a Neurodiversity Care Plan created, with or without a formal neurodiverse diagnosis. If you or our staff think that your child is at risk of becoming dysregulated while in the Emergency Department, we invite you to complete a Neurodiversity Care Plan.

For more information please click here. 

The PCH Emergency Department does not undertake assessments for Autism Spectrum Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

ED staff cannot provide prescriptions for ADHD medications under any circumstances due to legislation on prescribing these medications.

Speak to your GP, medical specialist, allied health provider or Community Child Health Nurse for support in the first instance.

For more information about services and support available, visit:

• Child Development Service
• NDIS Resources: Getting help through early childhood

Two people may accompany an ED patient at a time.

Visit our Visitor Guidelines for more information.

Not all COVID-19 cases require emergency care.

Only come to an emergency department if urgent medical attention is required.

If you are coming to the PCH ED with a COVID-19 positive child, you are COVID-19 positive yourself and/or you're a close contact please:

• alert the triage nurse on arrival
• wear a mask if able to do so (patients and caregivers)

Refer to our COVID visitor guidelines for more information.

Yes. If you would like assistance communicating with our staff, you can ask for an interpreter at any time.

Our staff can arrange for a professional interpreter to talk to you via videoconference, by telephone or face-to-face (when available).

It is important to us that you understand all the information given to you and the services being offered, and that you feel comfortable signing any required documentation.

Interpreter services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are provided to patients and their families free of charge.

If you are an overseas visitor or tourist, there may be costs associated with your child’s care.

Emergency and urgent medical care will always be provided.

Please visit Overseas patients information for more details.

Yes. We value feedback from young people and carers.

Visit Compliments and Complaints to find out how to share your feedback.