Family | Patient hub

Being an outpatient

What is an outpatient?

When your child is an outpatient it means they are visiting the hospital for diagnosis or treatment but are not staying in the hospital.

What to bring as an outpatient

Make sure you have everything listed below ready to show hospital staff:

  • Your child's personal health record, such as their blue book, immunisation record and any other health summaries you may have
  • Medicare card
  • Health insurance details or evidence of current fund membership
  • A list of medications or treatments your child is currently receiving, as well as the medications themselves to show hospital staff
  • Any equipment which your child needs to aid mobility, feeding or communication
  • Your family doctor's name, address and phone number
  • Your general paediatrician's name, address and phone number if your child sees one regularly
  • Any relevant x-rays and results from pathology tests.

What to expect

When making an appointment or inquiring about an appointment please be ready to quote your child's full name, address, date of birth and the medical record number if the child has been to the hospital before.

When you are given a time for your child's appointments, please remember that this is a guide only for when they will be seen. Depending on the clinic you may be at the hospital for several hours.

Plenty to do in the treatment and waiting rooms

The Cancer Centre for Children's big treatment room has many resources to entertain, distract, educate and pass the time. 

Electronics

There are iPads, portable DVD players, laptops and Nintendo DS consoles available for children to use when they are in the room.

Music and play

Your children can enjoy being read a story as part of a group, or have fun with music, at various times each week. Children can play and explore a range of musical instruments and props while singing their favourite songs. These sessions provide an opportunity for self-expression, provide distraction before and after appointments, and develop social skills through peer interaction, joint play and learning to take turns. Our Music Therapists and Child Life Therapists run these activities and by focussing on being positive and having fun can help lower stress in children and distract them from worries. 

Books

Medical procedures can can seem more normal and be less worrying to children when they are explained using language and pictures they can understand. The 'Wondero' books were developed by Lisa Carnovale and Cathy Quinn, who are Child Life Therapists and show Wondero with a central line and having a bone marrow transplant. These books are available in the waiting room for you to use with your child.

I spy

Your child can search our 'I spy' posters, located in the blood room and doctor's rooms, to provide a distraction from procedures. They can also pick a distraction toy from the baskets in the blood room to use during their next blood test.

You are always welcome to ask our Child Life Therapists for information about helping your child to cope better. 

Oncology Playroom Volunteers

We have highly valued and appreciated volunteers are in the playroom every day who can help you. They can:

  • Sit with your child for a short while if you wish to go and get a coffee
  • Get PlayStation and Xbox games for you to use in the waiting room
  • Set up craft activities
  • Keep you company
  • Get an iPad for you to use while you're in the waiting room
  • Get play dough, games or activities 

If there is anything else you need, just ask our volunteers or a staff member. They are always happy to help.

And there's more...

Sometimes there are teachers available to do a little schoolwork with your child, volunteers doing craft, and toys like Lego. 

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