Paediatric Urgent Care or Emergency Room? Where to Go When Your Child Falls Ill

Paediatric Urgent Care or Emergency Room? Where to Go When Your Child Falls Ill

It’s every Singaporean parent’s familiar worry — your child suddenly develops a high fever after dinner, or twists an ankle during evening playtime. You know it isn’t life-threatening, but it’s also not something that can wait until tomorrow. So… where should you go?

Many parents find themselves torn between heading straight to the Emergency Department (ED) or waiting to see their regular paediatrician. Yet, according to The Straits Times (2023), hospitals in Singapore are seeing more families turning up at the ED for non-critical conditions, often simply because they aren’t aware that Paediatric Urgent Care Centres (PUCCs) now exist as a convenient in-between option.

Centres like the Paediatric Urgent Care Centre at Parkway East Hospital (PEH) provide care for children who need prompt attention but not full-scale emergency intervention. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m., the centre is staffed by experienced paediatricians and supported by on-site X-ray and laboratory services, ensuring young patients receive timely, specialised care in a calm, child-friendly environment.

In this article, we explain the differences between paediatric urgent care and the emergency department, and share a simple guide to help parents decide where to go when their little one suddenly feels unwell.


Understanding the Levels of Care in Singapore

In Singapore, there are generally three levels of care that families can turn to:

Level of Care

Where to Go

Operating Hours (Typical)

Best For

1. GP or Paediatrician Clinic

Your regular family clinic or paediatrician (e.g., SBCC Baby & Child Clinic, private GP, polyclinic)

Office hours (usually 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.)

Mild or routine conditions such as coughs, colds, runny noses, mild fevers, skin irritation, or regular vaccinations.

2. Paediatric Urgent Care Centre (PUCC)

Parkway East Hospital Paediatric Urgent Care Centre

8 a.m. – 1 a.m. daily

Moderate but urgent conditions that can’t wait till the next day. For example, persistent fever, vomiting, minor fractures, sprains, asthma flare-ups, or infections needing same-day attention.

3. Emergency Department (ED)

24-hour hospital ED (e.g., Parkway East Hospital 24-Hour Urgent Care Centre, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, NUH Children’s ED)

24 hours

Serious, life-threatening, or complex conditions such as severe breathing difficulty, major injuries, seizures, deep cuts, or loss of consciousness.


Paediatric urgent care acts as the child-focused bridge between your GP and the emergency room. It’s meant for situations where your child needs urgent same-day, hospital-level care, but where the condition isn’t life-threatening. The team at Parkway East Hospital’s PUCC is specially trained in children’s medicine. They assess, treat, and stabilize young patients, and escalate to paediatric specialists based at the hospital if needed, with an average waiting time of 30 minutes. This makes them an ideal option for parents seeking quick, specialist care without the longer waits or intensity of a full emergency setting.

 

 

Where to Go for What: A Parent’s Quick Guide

Here’s a quick, practical guide to help you decide the best place for care when your child feels unwell.

Condition / Situation

Paediatric Urgent Care Centre (e.g. Parkway East Hospital PUCC)

High fever (≥ 39°C) lasting more than 2 days

✅ Especially if your child is alert and drinking fluids

Mild to moderate asthma attack

✅ Inhalation therapy and monitoring available

Falls, minor fractures, or sprains

✅ PUCC can do X-rays, splints, and pain management

Ear pain, sore throat, or red eye

✅ 

Mild allergic rash or hives

✅ 

Vomiting or diarrhoea with mild dehydration

✅ IV fluids can be administered if needed

Head bump (child alert and responsive)

✅ Doctor can assess for concussion

Infant (< 3 months) with any fever

✅

Seizure (first-time or prolonged)

✅

Deep cut, major burn, or severe injury

🚑 Requires emergency intervention

 

Legend: ✅ = Appropriate for paediatric urgent care, 🚑 = Requires Emergency Department

Parkway East Hospital PUCC is supported by on-call specialists, such as Orthopaedic, Paediatric Surgery and Plastic Surgery specialists experienced in handling paediatric patients. They are also supported by general paediatricians who sub-specialise in various fields including Neurology, Respiratory Medicine and Renal Medicine to name a few. 

Tip for Parents: If you’re unsure, call ahead to Parkway East Hospital’s Paediatric Urgent Care Centre at 6344 7588 before coming down. The team can advise whether to head to PUCC or proceed directly to the Emergency Department.

 

Choosing a Dedicated Paediatric Urgent Care Centre

At the Paediatric Urgent Care Centre (PUCC) at Parkway East Hospital (PEH), every detail is built around children’s needs. From the environment to the doctor’s touch, care here is guided by a simple promise: “We are with you, every little step.”

 

A Child-Focused, Warm and Professional Medical Team

The Parkway East PUCC team brings together paediatricians and emergency-trained doctors who specialise in caring for children, beyond just treating symptoms. They understand that kids express pain, fear, and discomfort differently from adults, and they take time to explain each step to parents and little ones alike.

A Comforting, Family-Friendly Environment

From colourful wall art to smaller equipment and cheerful nurses, the centre is designed to reduce anxiety for both parent and child. Families often describe the space as a “mini-hospital made for kids” — bright, clean, and calming. As one Parkway East paediatrician told The Straits Times (2023), “We want every visit to feel safe and supported, not stressful.”


Comprehensive, One-Stop Paediatric Care

The PUCC is part of a trusted one-stop paediatric ecosystem within Parkway East Hospital, complete with on-site X-ray, laboratory, and pharmacy facilities. This means most tests and treatments can be done in one visit — no running between clinics or waiting for next-day results. And if your child needs additional care, the hospital’s inpatient wards and network of paediatric specialists are on hand to care for your child.

 

Prompt, Accessible Help When It Matters

Open daily from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m., the PUCC offers one of the longest service hours for children’s urgent care in the East. Parents can visit after work, school, or dinner, whenever those unexpected fevers, rashes, or sprains appear. Quick access means treatment starts earlier, and recovery can too.

 

 

What to Bring When You Visit the Paediatric Urgent Care Centre

Here’s a short checklist to help you get ready before heading to the PUCC:

  • Your child’s identification: Birth certificate or NRIC for registration

  • Health booklet or vaccination record: For background on medical history and immunisations

  • Any current medications: Including inhalers, allergy medicine, or recent prescriptions

  • Previous hospital or clinic documents: Such as discharge summaries or test results

  • Insurance or Medisave information: For billing or claims

  • Comfort items: A favourite toy, pacifier, or blanket can help your child feel safe

  • Water bottle and light snacks: To keep your child occupied

Tip: Keeping a small “just-in-case” folder or pouch with these essentials can save precious minutes during an urgent moment.


Your trusted one-stop paediatric centre

Singapore’s Paediatric Urgent Care Centre at Parkway East Hospital, is here to offer timely, child-focused care when your little one needs it most. With an experienced, warm and professional medical team, extended hours from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily, and full hospital support under one roof, the Parkway East PUCC truly stands as your trusted one-stop paediatric centre.

Because at the end of the day, it’s about trust, comfort, and knowing you’re supported every little step of the way.

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This article was informed by resources from the following: