Visiting SCGH for an emergency
Patients requiring unplanned emergency care will continue to be treated as a high priority, but there are now 3 pathways to enter the ED for this care.
These changes will help keep our patients, staff and the wider community safe from the spread of COVID-19. Please be assured patients in all pathways will be triaged as usual by ED staff to assess their condition and those needing urgent care will be managed accordingly. Read more about this triage process below.
From February 2022 WA public hospital emergency departments are using rapid antigen tests (RATs) to screen patients who have COVID-19 symptoms but are not yet confirmed cases or have been to a known exposure location. The introduction of RATs means greater protection for patients, staff, and the community as we can more easily identify those patients who need COVID-19 precautions.
If at any time you are unsure of what to do, ask an ED staff member.
Information for support people accompanying ED patients
In line with visitor arrangements for all public hospitals through WA, please limit the number of people accompanying a person who is coming to the emergency department. These ever-changing policies are designed to ensure the safety of all staff, patients and visitors and sometimes this may be disappointing to our visitors.
Support people will undergo the same screening process as emergency department patients and will be required to show proof of vaccination. Read COVID information for all visitors on proof of vaccination documents and screening processes.
Please do not leave the designated ED areas to access other hospital areas or facilities.
Walk in patients arriving at the ED
As soon as you arrive please check in with ED staff who will be located outside the ED.
Both people seeking emergency medical care and their support people will be asked a series of screening questions as they arrive at the ED. It is important you answer the questions truthfully.
If your presenting symptoms require immediate or urgent care please alert the staff immediately and you will be managed accordingly.
Based on your responses, your will enter the ED via one of the following three streams, however this may vary for patients in need of immediate care:
Stream 1 (GREEN)
Patient has no COVID-19 symptoms and has not recently visited a COVID-19 exposure site.
If you have no COVID-19 symptoms (Healthy WA - external site) and have not recently visited a COVID-19 exposure site (Healthy WA - external site), you will be directed into the Emergency Department green triage area/waiting room for further assistance.
Stream 2 (RED)
Patient is a confirmed COVID-19 case.
You will be escorted straight into the Emergency department red zone for assessment.
Stream 3 (ORANGE)
Patient is a suspected COVID-19 case.
If you are a suspected COVID-19 case – that is you have COVID-19 symptoms (Healthy WA - external site) and / or recently visited a COVID-19 exposure site (Healthy WA - external site) – you will be directed to the orange stream entrance for further assistance.
- You will require a RAT
- You will be required to wait in a marquee waiting area adjoining the ED until RAT test results known
If at any time you are unsure of what to do, ask an ED staff member.