Our emergency departments are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is no need to call first, just arrive at the department at any time.
You should always call Triple Zero (000) in a genuine health emergency.
Metro South Health hospitals which are able to treat children include:
Please note: The Princess Alexandra Hospital only treats adult patients. If the patient is under 16 years old, please go directly to Queensland Children's Hospital.
When you are sick, know your choices by going to Emergency Choices to help you choose your options. You can also book a GP appointment online using HotDoc by visiting their website
Emergency departments are here to deal with emergencies, but for minor illness or injury, there are a range of other care options to consider:
Sometimes you may not be sure if your problem is an emergency. When in doubt, call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84). Qualified staff will advise you on what to do and if you need to go to a GP, pharmacy or emergency department.
Options for non-urgent conditions include:
Find a GP, pharmacy or other health service using the National Health Service Directory.
When you arrive at the emergency department, please go straight to the reception counter. You will be seen by a qualified nurse who assesses your condition.
Patients are treated in order of priority— people with life-threatening or critical conditions are always treated first.
It is important to let the triage nurse know any of the following information:
Read more about how emergency departments work.
A doctor or nurse will see you as soon as they are able. At any time, they may have to step away to treat a life-threatening condition. This will not affect your care, though it may mean a longer stay with us. Your waiting time will depend on the urgency of your condition.
Sometimes the waiting room my appear empty or quiet. If you have been waiting a while, it is because inside the emergency department doctors and nurses are busy attending to very sick patients.
If you are considering leaving the emergency department for any reason, please talk with the triage nurse first.
Inside the emergency department, your care will often start with an emergency nurse who will monitor you and initiate some therapies such as pain relief until a doctor assesses you.
Emergency department staff work as a team and your treating team can include doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, physiotherapists, social workers and mental health clinicians.
As part of your assessment you may need further investigations such as blood tests and x-rays. We will recommend a treatment plan for you and discuss what options are available to you.
We encourage you to ask our staff questions about your treatment if you need more information or if you don’t fully understand.
We can provide a free interpreter service for patients at our emergency departments.
It is our policy to use fully accredited professional interpreters for all medical appointments. Family or friends are usually not able to accurately translate complex medical information.
If you would like an interpreter, please let us know as soon as you arrive.
We all want to be safe in an emergency. At Metro South Health, we have a ‘zero tolerance to violence’. This includes swearing, verbal abuse, and physical and verbal threats.
If you or you visitors display any of these behaviours, you will be asked to leave.
To help you stay safe and comfortable, watch our three-minute video to learn what to expect.
Concerned about a patient in hospital getting worse or not improving? Follow the three steps in Ryan's Rule.
For more information about your rights at hospital see the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights.
You can also have your say and provide us feedback online or by contacting us.
