Emergency Department
In an emergency always dial 000 and ask for an ambulance.
How we can help you
Welcome to the Prince of Wales Emergency Department (ED).
We run a busy 24 hour emergency service to adults over 16 years of age who have a serious illness or injury and need immediate treatment.
We aim to provide the best care possible to all patients.
The order in which you will be seen in an ED is determined by the seriousness of your health problem, not the time of your arrival. Those people with the most serious and urgent conditions are seen first, and those with less serious conditions may have to wait until a clinician is free.
EDs can be very busy places.
If your need is not urgent please make an appointment with your local general practitioner (GP) or after hours medical centre.
If you are under 16 years of age, please attend the Emergency Department at Sydney Children's Hospital located on High St at our Randwick Hospital Campus.
| Hospital | Address | Phone |
| Prince of Wales Hospital - Adult Emergency Department | Barker St, Randwick | 9382 8400 |
| Sydney Children's Hospital - Children's Emergency Department | High St, Randwick | 9382 1111 |
| St Vincent's Hospital Sydney Emergency Department |
Victoria St, Darlinghurst |
8382 1111 |
| Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Emergency Department |
Missenden Rd, Camperdown |
9515 6111 |
| The Sutherland Hospital Emergency Department | Kareena Rd, Caringbah | 9540 7111 |
| St George Hospital Emergency Department | Gray St, Kogarah | 9113 1111 |
| Sydney Hospital and Sydney Eye Hospital - Adult Emergency Department | 8 Macquarie St, Sydney | 9382 7111 |
When you arrive you will be seen by a specialist triage nurse, who has a responsibility for allocating how urgent your need is.
If your condition gets worse you should tell the Triage Nurse immediately.
Do not eat or drink
Please ask the staff before you eat or drink while you are waiting to be seen. You may need tests or procedures that require you not to eat or drink beforehand.
Pain relief
If you are in pain tell the Triage Nurse who may be able to offer some pain relief.
More information is available in our brochure Welcome to Prince of Wales Emergency Department.
If you need to come to the emergency department please bring:
- A list of all the medicines you are currently taking. If you do not have a list simply bring your medicines with you.
- The name and phone number of your usual general practitioner (GP) or medical centre.
- Any letters or results from your doctor or other health professional.
- Private health insurance or Department of Veteran Affairs card if you have one.
- Your Medicare card or passport (if you are not an Australian citizen).
- A list of your allergies.
- Current contact details for you and a nominated next-of-kin or person we can contact if we need to for your care.
We have an Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer to support Aboriginal patients and their families. Please ask the staff to contact our AHLO.
Emergency care is free to Medicare Card holders or citizens of counties with reciprocal Medicare arrangements. If you are from a country not covered, an upfront fee will apply which you may be able to make a claim for on your private or travel insurance. Please let clerical staff know as soon as you arrive.
Read more about payment for services as an overseas visitor.
Please let us know if you need an interpreter.
We have no restrictions on visiting times. We generally limit the number of visitors to two people at any one time.
A doctor or nurse will let you know when you can go home. Before you leave you should make sure that you:
- Understand your treatment including what medicines to take and how to take them
- Know when to see a doctor again
- Ensure you have your discharge letter, and any work or medical certificate you may need.
Tell your local doctor (GP) within a couple of days that you have visited the emergency department. Results from any tests conducted in the Emergency Department will be forwarded to them. Please take any letters given to you by the hospital when you visit your GP. If for any reason you prefer us not to forward any information to your GP please let your treating doctor know.
We are a teaching hospital and student doctors or nurses may be involved and supervised by senior staff during your visit. You have the right to say no. If you do so, this will not impact in any way on the services we will provide.