What is a child?

There are various definitions of which patients can be admitted to a 'paediatric' institution. These are summarised below. Although the most readily used, chronological age is only one criterion for determining the destination of a transported patient. Other criteria include physical size, pubertal status, school attendance and the intellectual or emotional naivety of the patient.

Ambulance Service of NSW	Children's Hospitals in NSW
< 13 years	< 16th birthday
Subject to the limitations of pre-hospital estimation of age.	Older patients (> 16 and < 18th birthday) may be admitted if their with chronic health problem is under continuing care at that hospital.

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