Visitor limits and
guidelines
The Royal
Children’s Hospital (RCH) currently has limits on the number and type of people
who can visit.
At this time extended
family and friends are not able to see patients or accompany them to
appointments. For most wards, only parents, carers and siblings are permitted
as visitors.
Scroll down to see current restrictions including limits on visitor
numbers.
Check in process
We have a check in process to help us
know who is in the hospital. Please allow up to 30 minutes. You
will be asked some
questions about your health and to show your vaccination certificate. After checking in you’ll receive
an access sticker valid for that day.
Look out for our
friendly volunteers wearing pink vests – they’ll help guide you.
Unvaccinated visitors
Visitors
who are 18 years or over and have not had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine will
need to wear an N95 mask and undertake a rapid antigen (RA) test for each day they
are at the hospital. Visitors unable to present their vaccination certificate
will also need to follow these guidelines.
Visitor limits for
weekdays, weekends and public holidays
Limits on visitor
numbers vary from ward to ward. They may also change from time to time
depending on COVID-19 or Influenza in the community, and the hospital’s needs.
Under the current
guidelines, no extended family or friends are able to visit.
| Ward |
Who can visit
per patient each day? |
| Cockatoo, Koala, Platypus, Sugar Glider, Kelpie, and Kookaburra |
Four parents, carers or siblings. |
| Possum |
Two parents, carers or siblings. |
| Rosella and Butterfly |
Two parents or guardians (RAT required). |
| Dolphin |
One or two parents and guardians, depending on the patient’s COVID status. |
| Theatre and Recovery |
One parent or guardian. |
| Specialist clinics, Medical Imaging and Day Units |
One parent or guardian. |
| Emergency Department |
One parent/guardian may stay with patients in the waiting room. For patients moved to a cubicle, two may visit. |
| Banksia |
As determined by the patient’s treating team. |
Rapid Antigen Tests
required for some wards
Visitors to Rosella
and Butterfly wards need to undertake a RA test on certain days.
- Rosella:
Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday
- Butterfly:
Wednesday and Friday
Other visitors may
need to take a RAT if requested by the Visitor Support team.
View
Rapid Antigen Testing guidelines (PDF)
Overnight
stays
Visitors who stay
overnight in their child’s room need to complete the check in process each day
they are at the hospital. After checking in you will be given a new access
sticker valid for the day.
Overnight
visitors who are unable to present their
vaccination certificate will
need to complete a RA test as part of their daily check in process.
This daily
check in requirement applies to parents and guardians who leave their child’s
ward area.
Special
circumstances
If you have special
circumstances with relation to any of the guidelines on this page, please speak
with your treating team before arriving at the hospital. It
won’t be possible to negotiate special conditions or changes to the guidelines
during check in.
COVID safety
Please keep the
safety of all our patients and staff in mind during your visit.
When visiting The
Royal Children’s Hospital you will need to sanitise your hands, wear a surgical
or N95 mask (that covers your chin and nose) and maintain social distancing. We
provide hand sanitiser and masks for visitors.
If you have any
symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home and get tested immediately.
Have COVID-19 and a
clinic appointment?
Visit our Specialist
Clinics web page for more information and guidelines around
attending appointments.
If you or your
child has COVID-19 (or COVID-like symptoms) and a scheduled Specialist Clinic
appointment, please call 9345 6180. The Clinic staff will talk you through next
steps to help your child get the care they need.
COVID information
Visit our COVID-19 section for RCH information
and resources in English and other languages.
Visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au for general
information from 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.