WCH for Children

Children's Emergency

The Children's Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can be contacted on (08) 8161 7044.

The Department is located on the Ground Floor of the Hospital, with access from Kermode Street, Sir Edwin Smith Avenue and Brougham Place.

Car Parking

Very limited space is available for emergency drop off at the end of the Brougham Place ramp outside the Emergency Department. Please arrange to move your car as soon as possible. Car parking is available near the Hospital.

When you arrive

To view some short videos about what happens when you arrive at Children's Emergency, please go to our page:

Coming to Children's Emergency

Children are brought to Emergency  with a variety of illnesses. When you first arrive, a Triage Nurse will initially assess your child's condition. All children  are treated according to their medical urgency. Our first priority is to treat children with life or limb threatening illness or injuries, and these patients are attended urgently on arrival. This means that there may be a delay in treating some patients, particularly when the department is busy.

Once you have spoken to the Triage Nurse you will be asked to see the Receptionist to check further details - name, address, your general practitioner etc. You may then be asked to sit in the waiting area.

Please do not give your child anything to eat or drink before seeing a doctor or a member of the nursing team.

As soon as possible a nurse will do a more formal assessment of your child. This will include weighing them, asking some questions and doing some other checks such as temperature, urine testing and blood pressure. A doctor will come as soon as possible.

Medical Students

The WCH is a teaching hospital and medical students may also see you and your child. This is not compulsory and your permission will be sought.

Contact Details

Unit Heads

Medical Unit Head
Dr Malcolm Higgins

Nursing Service Director
Ms Sue Pilkington

Location

Ground Floor of the Hospital, with access from Kermode Street, Sir Edwin Smith Avenue and Brougham Place.

Mailing Address

Paediatric Emergency
Women's and Children's Hospital
72 King William Road
North Adelaide
South Australia 5006

Phone/fax/email

Phone (08) 8161 7044

Fax (08) 8161 6750

last modified: 20 Mar 2020

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