Hospital emergency departments
8-minute read
Key facts
- Emergency departments are open 24-hours a day for treatment of serious medical conditions.
- In the emergency department a triage nurse will assess you, and work out how urgently you need to be treated.
- Before you leave the hospital, make sure you understand your condition and the treatment plan for when you are home.
- For less urgent problems, you can go to an urgent care clinic, your GP, a pharmacist or call healthdirect.
What is an emergency department?
An emergency department (ED) is part of a hospital that provides 24-hour care to people who need urgent medical attention.
Most public hospitals in Australia have an emergency department.
EDs have a trained team of professionals who will care for you if you have a medical emergency.
Most EDs accept all kinds of emergencies.
In any emergency medical situation, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.
To find your closest emergency department, use the Healthdirect Online Service Finder Tool.
If you live in a remote area that is far from a hospital ED, you can check the Royal Flying Doctor Service website for information.
Read more about rural health services.
If you're not sure what to do, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for advice, 24 hours a day (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria).
FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.
When should I visit an ED?
You should visit the ED if you or your child are seriously ill or injured.
You may need to go to ED because of an urgent condition. Some examples of these are:
- chest pain or tightness
- severe pain
- any symptoms of a stroke
- problems with breathing
- uncontrollable bleeding
- loss of consciousness
- severe mental health concerns
- fever in infants
If you're injured in an accident, you may also need to go to an ED. Some examples include:
- injuries from any major accident
- a fall from a great height
- serious assault
- severe burns
What happens first when I visit an ED?
When you arrive in ED, hospital staff will ask for your name, address and Medicare number. This is to avoid confusing your care with anybody else's.
The triage (pronounced tree-arj) nurse will then see you.
EDs use a triage system. This ensures the people who need help most urgently are treated first.
The triage nurse will talk to you and might examine you. They will then place you in 1 of 5 categories:
- triage category 1 — needs treatment immediately (within 2 minutes)
- triage category 2 — needs treatment within 10 minutes
- triage category 3 — needs treatment within 30 minutes
- triage category 4 — needs treatment within 1 hour
- triage category 5 — needs treatment within 2 hours
Depending on your condition, you may be taken to a treatment room right away or asked to wait.
If your condition gets worse or changes, it's important to let the triage nurse know.
If you decide not to wait in the ED, make sure to tell the triage nurse that you are planning to leave. They will then discuss the risks of you leaving.
The ED doctor
The doctor will see you as soon as possible.
They will assess your condition and decide what treatment you need. The doctor may arrange for you to have blood tests, x-rays and other tests.
In some cases, emergency departments also have allied health staff. You might be seen by a social worker or a specialist nurse.
The doctor might also suggest that you:
- stay in a hospital ward overnight or longer
- have treatment, but stay in the ED so you can be monitored
- be transferred to another hospital that you can get better treatment
- are discharged (go home) and are followed-up by your general practitioner (GP)
What should I ask before being discharged from ED?
Before you are discharged from hospital, make sure you:
- understand the details of your health condition
- know what treatment and medicines you need once you go home
- are aware of when to see your doctor again
- have a medical certificate for your employer, if you need one
ASK YOUR DOCTOR — Preparing for an appointment? Use the Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist.
How much will I pay to visit an ED?
Visits to public hospital EDs are free for Medicare card holders.
You may be charged a fee if you go to a private hospital ED.
Read more on paying for healthcare.
What are some alternatives to ED?
Medicare urgent care clinic
Medicare urgent care clinics (UCC) are helpful if you have a condition that is not an emergency, but you can't wait to see a GP.
Most UCC's are open late and can treat a wide range of concerns. Examples of reasons to go to an urgent care clinic are:
General practitioner
Your general practitioner (GP) is the best person to see for non-emergency care.
Your GP can:
- do general health checks
- give vaccinations
- refer you to a specialist
Some GPs provide after-hours care.
Pharmacist
Your local pharmacist can provide support to help take care of your health.
They can:
- provide general health and wellness advice
- help you manage your medicines
- give some vaccinations
Regional areas
In regional and rural areas of Australia, different medical staff may provide emergency care.
This may include the Royal Flying Doctors Service.
If I'm pregnant
If you are pregnant and experience an emergency, you should go to ED.
You can also call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.
If your concern is less urgent, contact your usual doctor, midwife, or maternity unit.
Mental health services
If you, or someone you know, is having suicidal thoughts and is in immediate danger, call triple zero (000). For help and support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
For advice and to get connected to local mental health services, call Medicare Mental Health on 1800 595 212. Check the operating times.
If you need to talk to someone about your mental health, call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
The healthdirect Symptom Checker will guide you to the right kind of care. This will help you decide if you need to talk to a health professional, go to a hospital or call triple zero (000).
CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.
Resources and support
To find your nearest hospital emergency department or after-hours medical service, use the healthdirect Service Finder tool.
Watch the video on What care do I need? or read the healthdirect page How to find the right health professional for more information.
The healthdirect Mental health resources article offers details on where to access support, which includes suicide prevention and mental illness.
Lifeline provides crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call them on 13 11 14.
You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.