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About our service
The Emergency Department provides urgent and emergency care to babies, children and adolescents up to 16 years of age.
Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week; the Emergency Department has a team of expert healthcare professionals who care for children suffering from serious injury or illness.
The best place for your child’s regular care is with their GP, paediatrician or other health care provider. If your child is experiencing general health complaints such as a cough or sore throat or needs to receive a general health check-up, we encourage you to see your local health care provider closer to home.
If you think your child’s condition is immediately urgent, please call 000 for an ambulance.
Visit NSW Health's Emergency Department website to find your local Emergency Department.
Important information
Deciding when to come to Emergency
You know your child best
You know when your child is getting sick by changes in their mood, behaviour, activity and appetite.
If your child is only mildly unwell, think about waiting to see if the illness worsens before seeing a doctor.
If you are worried about your child, you should take them to a doctor. Your local doctor is the first doctor to contact.
Your local Emergency Department is always available if your child needs urgent care.
Seriously ill children can:
- become unwell quickly
- have difficulty breathing
- be pale in the face
- be blue around the lips
- be unusually inactive or sleepy
- have a rash that does not fade or go away when pressed
- have fits or convulsions
Please get help quickly if these symptoms develop rapidly, occur together, or if your child is very young.
Directions to Emergency
Where to park
Undercover paid parking is available at the rear of the hospital. Enter via Barker Street.
Some nearby street parking is available for short stays.
Arriving at the Emergency Department
The Emergency Department is located on High Street, Randwick.
Undercover paid parking is available at the rear of the hospital. Enter via Barker Street. Some nearby street parking is available for short stays.
When you arrive:
- Come to the front desk, where a clerk and the triage nurse will see you.
- The clerk will need to take a record of your child’s details.
- The triage nurse will ask for information on your child’s injury or illness and do a simple assessment.
Based on your child’s symptoms, medical history and condition, the triage nurse will decide how urgently your child needs to be seen by a healthcare professional.
In the waiting room
The most seriously ill and critically injured children will always be seen first.
Even when the waiting room isn’t full, we may be busy caring for children requiring lifesaving and critical care.
Sometimes children who arrive after you are seen before you. This may include children with minor illnesses and injuries treated in a separate emergency department area.
Our team works hard to help everyone as quickly as possible. Waiting can be stressful and frustrating, and we appreciate your patience and understanding.
While you are waiting, we will care for your child. For some children, we will be able to start treatment. This may include having an x-ray, giving fluids, collecting urine samples, or treating pain.
If you are worried your child is getting sicker or is experiencing more pain while waiting, please tell us.
Please tell us if you decide to go home before seeing a doctor. We want to check to make sure your child is well enough to go. We may be able to offer advice.
Please ask if you need more information or if we haven’t explained this clearly. It’s always ok to talk to one of our team.
In the assessment area
When your child’s name is called, you will be taken to an assessment area to be seen by one of the Emergency Department staff.
We will ask for information about your child’s symptoms and medical history.
We may need to:
- arrange some tests for your child, such as a blood test or x-ray
- monitor or watch your child for some time.
- ask specialist doctors and nurses from other areas of the Hospital to come to see your child.
Staying in hospital
Depending on their injury or illness, some children need to stay in the Hospital for overnight care.
Sometimes we can organise for your child to be moved to your local hospital so that you can be closer to home.
Before you go home
Please tell us if you are worried that your child is not well enough to leave.
Before you leave, please be sure that you understand:
- your child’s diagnosis
- what you should expect to happen at home
- how to manage your child’s illness or injury at home
- medications or other treatments that your child needs
- where to go if you need more care.
We want to be sure that we have helped you and your child.
