- 'Big News 4 Kids' public education campaign to ensure parents take sick children to the correct hospital
- Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) will close and the Perth Children's Hospital (PCH) emergency department will open on Sunday June 10 at 7am
- The new PCH emergency department is 88 per cent bigger than the one at PMH and boasts a range of enhanced facilities
A major public education campaign has been launched so Western Australian families know when Princess Margaret Hospital closes and the Perth Children's Hospital emergency department opens.
The 'Big News 4 Kids' nine-week campaign across television, radio, digital and billboards provides potentially life-saving information about where children should go in the event of a medical emergency.
On Sunday June 10 at 7am, the doors at Princess Margaret Hospital close and sick children who need emergency treatment must attend the new Perth Children's Hospital.
The staged opening of Perth Children's Hospital will begin on Monday May 14 when it welcomes its first outpatients, two weeks later surgery starts in the operating theatres and along with the final patient move from PMH, the emergency department opens on Sunday June 10.
The new PCH emergency department is 88 per cent larger than PMH's current emergency department, with 23 acute care bays, three resuscitation bays, 11 short stay beds, eight consultation rooms, two treatment rooms, and an emergency area specifically designed for dental, eye and ear, nose and throat patients.
There are electronic privacy touchscreens, soundproof windows and a dedicated undercover ambulance arrival bay. The PCH emergency department is located next to the medical imaging area for easy access to x-rays and scans.
The public are reminded that hospital emergency departments are for emergencies. For minor illness or injury, there are a range of other care options for the community to consider including general practitioners and healthdirect.
A Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/perthchildrenshospital) and PCH campaign website (http://pch.health.wa.gov.au) will also be launched today, with more information becoming available as services at the new hospital go live.
Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan:
"As a father of three, I know that with a sick child there are added levels of stress and anxiety and knowing where to go to immediately in an emergency is important.
"A public awareness campaign is vital to mitigate the potential risk that any family with a sick or injured child arrives at the Perth Children's Hospital emergency department before it has opened, or Princess Margaret Hospital after it has closed.
"This Government got this hospital open, and now we want all of the community to be confident that they know where to go with a sick child when Perth Children's Hospital opens for all patients in June.
"Princess Margaret Hospital has been there for Western Australians for more than a century delivering specialist paediatric care, however, come June 10 at 7am, this legacy will transition to Perth Children's Hospital so it's essential we all help spread the word."
Comments attributed to Health Minister Roger Cook:
"This hospital is big news for our kids and is set to provide world-class care for children and families through its dedicated staff and state-of-the-art facilities.
"The McGowan Government has worked tirelessly to open this remarkable facility for sick WA children - now we need to be sure families know where to go so that no child attends the wrong emergency department.
"Sunday June 10, 7am will be a big moment in this State's history and it's imperative that all families know to attend Perth Children's Hospital in the case of an emergency from this time.
"It's a priority to make sure that all WA families know where to take a sick child in the event of a medical emergency."
Premier's office - 6552 5000
Health Minister's office - 6552 6500
