The Bureau of Meteorology predicts damaging wind gusts and heavy to locally intense rainfall which may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches and crosses the Queensland coast late Thursday/early Friday this week.
The safety and wellbeing of our patients, their families and staff is our highest priority. Children’s Health Queensland will continue to monitor the situation and will take any necessary steps needed to prepare for and respond to Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Emergency care
The Queensland Children’s Hospital Emergency Department will remain open, 24 hours a day, for any child or young person needing emergency care.
If you need to come to hospital, please ensure you bring you child’s regular medications with you.
In an emergency, you should call Triple Zero (000).
An alternative to attending an emergency department may be to connect online to the Virtual Emergency Care Service which is open 8am to 10pm, 7 days a week. The Virtual Emergency Care Service has specialist clinicians available to treat a range of emergency conditions virtually. Operating hours will be extended to 24 hours from 8am Thursday, 6 March until 10pm Tuesday, 11 March 2025.
You can also contact 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84), 24 hours a day, if you need health advice and ask to speak to a child health nurse.
Planned surgeries and outpatient appointments
We are working to reschedule non-urgent surgery and outpatient appointments that were planned for Thursday and Friday (6 and 7 March), where safe and appropriate to do so. Some appointments may be switched to telehealth.
Families will be contacted directly to confirm their child’s telehealth appointment or to reschedule.
If you have a scheduled appointment at another time and you cannot safely travel to the hospital for your appointment, contact us so we can make alternative arrangements or reschedule (you'll find the phone number on the appointment letter or the confirmation SMS you received).
We want everyone to remain safe, so please don’t travel when it is not safe to do so. We encourage you to check your route to the Queensland Children’s Hospital to make sure it is clear.
- Stay across weather updates and warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology
- Find the latest information about road closures, power outages, evacuation centres and weather warnings on your local shire and city council disaster dashboards at Get Ready Queensland.
Community child health and mental health clinics
Our community-based child health and mental health centres in the Greater Brisbane area will be closed on Friday, 7 March.
Some appointments on Thursday, 6 March will also be rescheduled or transitioned to virtual consultations where possible.
If your child's appointment has been changed, we will contact you directly. If you have any concerns, please call 1300 366 039.
For more information during this time, contact 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) 24 hours, 7 days (ask to speak to a child health nurse) or the Breastfeeding helpline on 1800 686 268.
Supporting your child through Cyclone Alfred
Cyclones and storms can be scary for people of all ages but for babies and young children ‘big feelings’ of fear and confusion can be overwhelming.
Our storybook, Birdie and the Cyclone, was created for parents and carers to read to young children to help them:
- learn what happens during and after a cyclone
- work through sad or scary feelings
- understand they will feel safe and happy again.
For more information on how to support your little one during and after a cyclone, read our latest blog How to help your child through the ‘big feelings’ stirred up by a cyclone.