When visiting, there are a few things that are good for you to know.
- If you are coming for an appointment, arrive 30 minutes before.
- If you are visiting someone on a ward, please check our visitor access requirements below.
- When you get to the hospital, you’ll need to go through a check-in process. We will ask you a few questions to check:
- your identity
- the reason of your visit
- that you have no COVID like symptoms (cough, runny nose, sore throat, fever)
- you are not a close contact of a current COVID case
- You will need to sanitise your hands on entry, wear a surgical mask (that covers your chin and nose) and maintain social distancing while in the hospital. We have hand sanitiser and masks, so there’s no need to worry if you don’t have any.
- If you are visiting Kookaburra, Rosella or Butterfly wards you will need to have a Rapid Antigen Test. Click here for further information.
- Prepare for a check-in process that takes up to 30 minutes. You may want to bring some water, a book or a favourite toy for the kids.
Our friendly volunteers (wearing pink vests) and staff will be around the hospital. They’ll guide you through the check-in process and direct you to your appointment or ward.
Click
here for a map of the hospital.
Download our Current visitor access requirements.
Visitor access
To help keep patients, staff and visitors safe, the RCH has limits on who and how many people can access the hospital.
Our visitor access is specific to the Royal Children’s Hospital and is different to directions that apply for the general community.
Visit our COVID page to read more.
Visitor access varies from ward to ward, and may change from time to time, so please check the table below before coming. You can speak with your treating team about any special circumstances with regards to visitor numbers.
Weekdays (Monday to Friday)
| Ward |
Maximum visitors per day |
Who can visit? |
| Cockatoo |
2 |
Parents, guardians and siblings |
| Koala |
2 |
Parents, guardians and siblings |
| Platypus |
2 |
Parents, guardians and siblings |
| Sugar Glider |
2 |
Parents, guardians and siblings |
| Kelpie |
2 |
Parents, guardians and siblings |
| Kookaburra |
2 |
Parents, guardians and siblings (RAT required) |
| Possum |
2 |
Parents, guardians and siblings |
| Rosella |
2 |
Parents and guardians (RAT required) |
| Butterfly |
2 |
Parents and guardians (RAT required) |
| Dolphin |
1 |
Parents and guardians |
| Theatre and Recovery |
1 |
Parents and guardians |
| Specialist clinics, Medical Imaging, Day Units |
1 |
Parents and guardians |
| Banksia |
As determined by the patient’s
treating team |
| Emergency Department |
Waiting room: 1
parent or guardian.
For patients moved to a cubicle, 2 parents/guardians may visit. |
Weekends and public holidays
Visitors other than immediate family members (friends) can now come and visit, on weekends and public holidays.
There is a limit of two ‘other visitors’ each day.
| Ward |
Maximum
visitors per day |
Who can visit? |
| Cockatoo |
4 |
Parents, guardians, siblings and others* |
| Koala |
4 |
Parents, guardians, siblings and others* |
| Platypus |
4 |
Parents, guardians, siblings and others* |
| Sugar Glider |
4 |
Parents, guardians, siblings and others* |
| Kelpie |
4 |
Parents, guardians, siblings and others* |
| Kookaburra |
4 |
Parents, guardians, siblings and others* (RAT required) |
| Possum |
2 |
Parents, guardians, siblings and others* |
| Rosella |
2 |
Parents and guardians (RAT required) |
| Butterfly |
2 |
Parents and guardians (RAT required) |
| Dolphin |
1 |
Parent or guardian |
| Theatre and Recovery |
1 |
Parent or guardian |
| Banksia |
As determined by the patient’s
treating team |
| Emergency Department |
Waiting room: 1
parent or guardian.
For patients moved to a cubicle, 2 parents/guardians may visit. |
*Maximum two ‘others’ (this includes extended family and friends) each day.
Have COVID-19 and an appointment at the RCH?
If you have any COVID like symptoms or are meant to be isolating, please stay home, get tested and take care of yourself. If you have COVID-19 and have an appointment, give us a call on 9345 6180. We’ll talk you through what we can do to make sure you are still able to get the care you
need.
We are here to support your access to the hospital and will be able to answer questions you may have about your visit.
Need more information
on COVID
Additional information on COVID-19 can be found
here.
To keep up-to-date with the latest information about COVID-19, we encourage you to regularly visit the
Victorian Department of Health.
If you need an interpreter, please call TIS National on 131 450.
We have also developed a simple
Factsheet for Kids and COVID-19.
Your A-Z guide to the Royal Children’s Hospital
Here is an A-Z guide full of useful information about The Royal Children's Hospital and, importantly, things you should know about the hospital.