Your child's outpatient appointment

The PCH Outpatient Department provides a range of outpatient services for children and adolescents referred by General Practitioners (GP), specialists and other healthcare professionals.

Managing your appointments

Once your child’s referral has been accepted, you will receive an appointment letter in the mail with the appointment time and the location of the clinic you will be attending. Please be aware that the wait time for an appointment varies, depending on the priority allocated by the specialty doctors.

48 hours before your appointment you will receive an text or SMS reminding you of your child's outpatient appointment.

If you can't attend your appointment and need to cancel or reschedule, or you have forgotten when or where your appointment is, please call Outpatient Direct.

If you or your child have cold and flu-like symptoms, are COVID positive or close contacts you need to discuss this with your treating team prior to coming to PCH.

 

To cancel, reschedule or confirm your child's appointment Call Outpatient Direct 1300 855 275

Please note: Some specialities may require you to contact them directly to manage your appointment. This will be detailed in your appointment letter, or when you call Outpatients Direct.

Manage My Care app

          

The WA health system’s first patient-facing app, Manage My Care, is now available for outpatients at PCH.

Manage My Care is a free app and web portal that helps parents, carers and patients manage their outpatient appointments and referrals. The app allows you to update your contact details, request to reschedule, confirm or cancel upcoming outpatient appointments for some specialties as well as access details about your appointments. Manage My Care can be downloaded as a free app from the App Store or Google Play.

For more information, visit the page on HealthyWA.

Telehealth

 

 

There may also be other ways of attending your outpatient appointment. Some outpatient departments are contacting families to organise alternative ways of attending your appointment including telephone or videoconference appointments (Telehealth).

They will be in contact with you directly prior to your appointment if this is suitable for your child.

For more information, visit the Telehealth page. 

Preparing for your appointment

Please refer to your child's appointment letter for your appointment time and the location of the clinic you will be attending.

Allow two to three hours for the appointment. Some appointments may take longer if you need to see several different health professionals and have x-rays, dressings or plasters.

Talking to your child about coming to the hospital will help prepare them for their appointment. Take a look at our videos about coming to PCH below.

Interpreter Services

PCH provides an interpreter service for children and families who cannot effectively communicate in English. This includes people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal people and Deaf or hard of hearing people who communicate in Auslan.

If you have any difficulties communicating with our staff in English, you can ask for an interpreter to attend your outpatient appointment, or at any time. 

Call the PCH Interpreter Service on 6456 4724 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday to request an interpreter.

Find out more about the PCH Interpreter Service and how to request assistance

Reschedule if you are unwell

If you, your child or anyone visiting PCH is feeling unwell or displaying the following symptoms, please do not attend the appointment and call Outpatient Direct on 1300 855 275 to cancel and reschedule:

• flu like symptoms (fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat)
• vomiting or diarrhoea
• generalised unexplained rash.

What should I bring?

• Children must be accompanied by their primary caregiver (parent or legal guardian)
• Outpatient appointment letter
• Any relevant x-rays or pathology reports
• Child Health Record
• Medicare card and any other concession cards
• An iPad or book is good to bring while you are in the waiting room
• A list of any questions you or your child might have for your child’s health professional.

How to check in for your appointment

 

You can then check in for your appointment at one of our self check in kiosks.

Self check-in kiosks

PCH has electronic check-in kiosks for outpatient appointments. They are located at: 

• Ground level: the main entrance (in front of the information desk), and the northern entrance (near Kulunga Moort Mia – the Aboriginal Family Lounge) and near Clinic C
• Level 1: outside  Clinics D and F
• Level 4: outside Clinic L

Checking in 

Checking in for an Outpatient appointment is like checking in for a flight at one of our self-check in kiosks. You will need your appointment letter or Medicare card.  There are Volunteers available nearby to help you if you need.

It is important to read each screen as you complete the self-check in.