Latest updates

QR code check-in system for staff and visitor registration | 17 September 2020

A QR code check-in system is now available at the Queensland Children’s Hospital to help with COVID-19 contact tracing if needed.

The contactless system allows anyone entering the hospital to quickly register their details by using the camera on their smart phone to scan a unique QR code. If hospital visitors do not have a smart phone, iPads are available on Level 2 for check-in.

The system will be rolled out across all other Children’s Health Queensland facilities by late-September.

Check-in is not mandatory, but staff and visitors are strongly encouraged to use the simple check-in system to help keep Children’s Health Queensland facilities and the community COVID-safe.

Changes to visitor restrictions and visiting hours at the Queensland Children’s Hospital | 26 August 2020

In line with direction from the Chief Health Officer, from 6am on 27 August 2020, revised visitor limits and visiting hours will be in place at all Children’s Health Queensland facilities including the Queensland Children’s Hospital. To help support inpatients, two parents or carers from the same household will be permitted during visiting hours.

So we can safely facilitate two parents or carers at a child’s bedside, patient visiting hours during the COVID-19 pandemic have changed to 8am to 5pm daily. Siblings should continue to be limited wherever possible. For parents and carers from separate households, a 10-minute changeover at the child’s bedside will be permitted in between visits.

For outpatient appointments and in the emergency department, only one parent/carer can attend with a child. Wherever possible, siblings should also be limited. Limiting the number of adults at our facilities and following physical distancing guidelines continues to play an important role in helping us maintain safe access to health care for children.

Masks now mandatory at the Queensland Children’s Hospital and all Children’s Health Queensland facilities | 24 August 2020

On the advice of the Chief Health Officer, Children’s Health Queensland is implementing additional precautions to help protect patients, their families and staff against COVID-19 at this time.

All staff, visitors and parents/carers are now required to wear a mask while in the Queensland Children’s Hospital and all Children’s Health Queensland facilities. Parents/carers will also be required to wear masks at all times except when alone with their child in a single room.

Paediatric patients, including siblings, are currently not required to wear a mask but encouraged to wear one if they are willing to while in shared or public areas. It is not recommended that children under the age of two wear a mask.

On arrival to the hospital, parents/carers and visitors will be provided with a mask at the health screening stations located at the hospital entrances. Additional masks will also be available throughout the hospital.

Public Health Alert | 23 August 2020

Queensland Health has issued a Public Health Alert for locations in the greater Brisbane area. Anyone who was at any of the contact tracing locations at the relevant times are asked to monitor their health and, if they develop even the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms, get tested.

Hospital visitors limits | 22 August 2020

For the safety of all Queenslanders, the Chief Health Officer has directed hospitals in the greater Brisbane region to restrict visitors as of Saturday, 22 August 2020.

Visitors at the Queensland Children’s Hospital and all Children’s Health Queensland facilities, including the Ellen Barron Family Centre, Jacaranda Place and our community clinics are now limited to one parent or carer per patient.

This includes presentations to the Emergency Department, inpatient visitors and outpatient appointments.

Limiting the number of parents, carers and visitors, and following physical distancing guidelines continues to play an important role in helping us maintain safe access to health care for children.

If you arrive at the hospital with extra visitors, the health screening stations located at the entrance to the hospital will only allow one parent or carer to enter, in line with the Public Health Direction.

Under exceptional circumstances, special consideration will be given to families on emergency or compassionate grounds.  Please speak with the nurse unit manager of your ward or service about this prior to arriving at the QCH or any other Children’s Health Queensland facility.

Experts advise it is safe for majority of oncology and BMT patients to return to school | 8 May 2020

The Australian and New Zealand Children’s Haematology/Oncology Group (ANZCHOG) has recommended that it is safe for the vast majority of paediatric oncology and BMT patients to return to school. If your doctor had advised that it was safe for your child to attend school prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is now safe for your child to attend school when they are re-opened.
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Update to elective surgeries at the Queensland Children’s Hospital | 22 April 2020

Following the National Cabinet announcement that elective procedures would gradually recommence from next Monday (27 April), Children’s Health Queensland has been working closely with Queensland Health to develop a clinically-led plan to increase elective surgery at the Queensland Children’s Hospital in a safe and considered way.

Our staff have begun the process of contacting families to confirm elective surgery bookings starting from Monday, 27 April. Parents/carers do not need to contact the hospital but will be phoned directly and advised if there has been a change to their child’s surgery booking.

Delivering the best and safest care possible for our patients remains our highest priority and we are closely monitoring the situation to ensure we continue to provide timely care to children who need it most.  We appreciate your support and understanding, and look forward to being able to return to business as usual as soon as we can.

If your child’s surgery has been postponed, and you’re concerned that their condition is getting worse, please contact our Elective Surgery Bookings Office on 07 3068 1125 or your family GP.

COVID-19 testing expanded in Cairns, Brisbane and the Gold Coast | 7 April 2020

The Queensland Government has expanded testing for COVID-19 to include people with symptoms that cannot be explained in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Cairns.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Steven Miles said testing criteria had been broadened in areas with potential local community transmission.

“We have tested more than 58,000 people already and now we are stepping it up in three major centres,” Mr Miles said.

“If people in Brisbane, the Gold Coast or Cairns present to a GP clinic or fever clinic with acute respiratory symptoms or pneumonia, and the cause cannot be determined, they will be tested for COVID-19.”
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Health screening now in place at the Queensland Children’s Hospital | 30 March 2020

All visitors to the Queensland Children’s Hospital are now required to undergo public health screening before entering the building.

Screening stations have been established at the Stanley Street and Raymond Terrace entrances to the hospital. The screening includes a series of questions about you and your child’s current health as well as a temperature check by a registered nurse.

The public health screenings follow the strict visitor restrictions introduced last week.

We understand this may cause a short delay but we appreciate your patience and support in helping us keep everyone in the hospital safe.

NDIS services and supports for children with disability during COVID-19 pandemic | 25 March 2020

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has made changes to how the NDIS works to help people with disability and their families access the services and supports they need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NDIA is automatically extending plans by 12months to make sure families have certainty about funding. Extended plans will have the same core and capacity building budgets as current plans. Reviews are still being held if needed, and these are happening over the phone.

Also, NDIS plans can be used more flexibly, particularly between core and capacity building supports. And social distancing measures has led to new opportunities to purchase certain items and technologies that may not previously have been approved.

If your child’s plan needs changes, including flexible use of the plan, or if you are having difficulty getting services due to COVID-19, you need to:

• Speak with your Support Coordinator or your planner as soon as possible,
• call 1800 800 110 and select option 5. The National Contact Centre is available between 8am to 8pm (local time) Monday to Friday,
• email enquiries@ndis.gov.au, or
• use the webchat function on the NDIS website contact us page to talk to the NDIS online.

If you have specific questions about COVID19 and your family, please email COVIDquestions@health.qld.gov.au.