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Emergency Department

The Emergency Department (ED) is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are one of the busiest EDs in south-east Queensland, treating more than 60,000 patients, including 13,500 children, each year.

Our services

We provide emergency medical services to children and adults needing urgent care for all illnesses and injuries, including:

  • heart conditions
  • care of the elderly including hip fractures
  • general medical and surgical conditions
  • breathing problems
  • poisonings
  • decreased conscious level (e.g. coma).

If a patient needs a specialist service that we don’t offer at Redcliffe Hospital, then we will arrange safe transfer to another hospital.

We are able to provide initial care for children, including infants, however it may be necessary to transport them to the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital for specialist expertise that is not available at Redcliffe Hospital.

Getting here

We have a drop-off and pick-up zone at the front of the Emergency Department with a maximum time limit of 5 minutes. View more information about parking and transport.

How to access this service

You can directly access this service.

What to bring

  • Your Medicare card
  • Private health insurance card (if you have one)
  • Health Care Card and/or concession card (if you have one)
  • Current medications (prescription, over the counter and herbal medicine)
  • Relevant x-rays, scans or any other test results or reports
  • Glasses, hearing and mobility aids

For children, please also bring:

  • Your Medicare card with your child’s details
  • Your baby’s Red Book (Personal Child Health Record)
  • Discharge information from previous admissions
  • GP referral letter (if applicable)
  • Spare clothes for yourself and your child
  • Smart device or an activity to keep your child entertained

  • A dressing gown or cardigan, sleepwear or comfortable day clothes
  • Slippers and shoes (low heel, closed-in, non-slip, adjustable and firm fitting around the foot)
  • Your toiletries and personal items
  • Copy of Advanced Healthcare Directive or Enduring Power of Attorney if you have one
  • Something to read or do during your stay
  • Medical devices required for your care (e.g. CPAP machine)
  • Do not bring large amounts of cash or valuables such as jewellery, watches or other items of value to you

For children, please also bring:

  • Your child’s pyjamas, socks or comfortable day clothes and shoes
  • Toiletries (nappies, toothpaste, toothbrush)
  • A comfort item like a toy or blanket
  • Books or favourite activity
  • Your clothes and toiletries if you are staying overnight with your child
  • Your slippers and shoes (low heel, closed-in, non-slip, adjustable and firm fitting around the foot)
  • Something to read or do during your child’s stay
  • Medical devices required for your child’s care (e.g. CPAP machine)

When you arrive

On arrival, an experienced emergency nurse will assess you or your child. Following this, you will be seen in order of priority. We try our best to see every patient within a timely manner. Some patients who are more unwell may be seen ahead of you and this may result in an unpredictable waiting period. We ask that you be patient while we deliver the best possible care to all our patients. If you or your child’s condition worsens, or if you have any concerns, please alert the nurse.

If possible, please update your contact and GP details on arrival as these may have changed since your last visit.

Are you visiting from overseas?

If you are visiting from another country and require medical attention your may be billed for the cost of treatment.

Private health insurance

If you have private health insurance cover and would like to use it, you can choose to be treated as a private patient.

Appropriate behaviour

The safety of our staff and patients is top priority. In accordance with Queensland Health policy, we do not tolerate any form of aggressive or abusive behaviour, even verbal.

Any audio or visual recording without permission is strictly prohibited.  This protects the privacy of our patients.

Discharge and follow-up care

Before discharge, you will be given a GP letter detailing your medical condition and appropriate follow-up plan. You may also be given a prescription for medication or a referral letter to another specialist.

Frequently asked questions

You should come to the hospital if you think you have a serious problem. We would rather see you and tell you everything is ok than miss something. However, if your long-standing issue has become worse because you have run out of medication, please see your GP.

If you or your child does not need urgent care, visiting your local doctor or an after-hours medical centre may be an option. This may mean a shorter waiting period and allows you to see the same doctor for better continuity of care.

There are also phone and web services available:

  • 13 HEALTH is a Queensland Health hotline for advice on healthcare matters 24 hours a day.
  • Queensland Poisons Information Centre for advice on poisoning incidents 24 hours a day. Phone: 13 11 26
  • Lifeline is a confidential crisis support service operating 24 hours a day. Phone: 13 11 14 (calls from mobiles are free)
  • 1300 MH CALL (1300 64 22 55) for mental health assistance

Certain tests or procedures require patients to fast, which means no eating or drinking. As a general rule, we ask patients not to eat or drink before talking to the medical or nursing staff. If you or your child has a medical condition and are unable to fast, please speak to staff as soon as possible.

We are able to perform minor dental procedures (e.g. treating an infection, providing a numbing injection or replanting a tooth), however we do not have a dentist in the Emergency Department and we cannot perform any major procedures. We encourage you to see a dentist in the community to receive timely and appropriate care.

Parents will stay with their child at all times. While we understand the importance of support from family and friends during this difficult time, we may need to limit the number of visitors in the Emergency Department due to overcrowding. This will ensure you or your child receives the best possible care. You may nominate one family member as the contact person to ensure consistent information is provided.

Yes, we have all the equipment required to manage critically ill and injured patients who present to us. The Emergency Department provides the initial resuscitation and management to a point where a patient can be safely transported to another facility for ongoing investigation and treatment, if required.

Redcliffe Hospital is a teaching hospital. This means some doctors and nurses are junior and need to discuss their cases. Other aspects of care also have to be discussed among team members.

You will need to see your GP and your GP will organise the specialist appointment. They can notify the clinic if your case becomes more urgent.

Your results won’t be sent to your GP, however they will receive a concise discharge summary outlining what happened during your Emergency Department stay. It will either be given to you, faxed or mailed to the GP. Your GP can still access all your results by contacting the hospital. This is particularly important if you have had tests where the results don’t come back straight away.

You may be asked if you are happy to participate in current research studies when attending as a patient. We will attempt to provide you with all the information you need. You will have time to read about the research and ask questions. Involvement in research is voluntary and you may withdraw from participation at any time.

Contact us

Emergency Department
Location: Ground floor, Redcliffe Hospital
Open: 24/7

Need help outside hours?

For non-urgent medical issues call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) or visit your GP.

For mental health concerns call 1300 MH Call (1300 64 22 55).

In an emergency call 000.

Refer a patient

GPs and specialists in the community and in other hospitals can refer a patient by calling the emergency physician “on the floor” via hospital switchboard number on (07) 3883 7777.

Health professionals

Our services

  • a 5 bed resuscitation area
  • 19 acute area beds
  • 1 Isolation bed for serious infectious illnesses
  • an observation area for adults
  • heart monitoring
  • 24-hour radiology department – x-rays, CT scan and ultrasound
  • minor injuries
  • ambulatory care

Our staff

  • doctors
  • nurses
  • operational officers
  • admin support
  • social work support
  • physiotherapy support
  • pharmacy support