Emergency

• Can anyone present to St Andrew’s Emergency Centre?

  Yes, our Emergency Centre is open 24/7 for you and your family. You’ll be assessed quickly, treated and cared for by our experienced emergency doctors, nurses and support staff.

  We have state-of-the-art equipment, radiology and pathology services on site, which means we can access all of the tools we need to diagnose your injury or illness in one place. Depending on your personal circumstances, we can also provide a referral to one of our St Andrew’s specialists for further review and treatment if required.

  You don’t need private health insurance or a referral to visit St Andrew’s in an emergency. While ours is a private fee-for-service facility, most patients can claim a portion of their account from Medicare.

• What are the symptoms of a heart attack?

  Heart attack symptoms can vary from person to person, but here are some of the most common warning signs:

  • Chest pain – can also feel like heaviness, tightness or pressure
  • Arm, shoulder, neck, jaw or back pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea

  It is important to seek treatment fast. If you think you might be having a heart attack, get to emergency straight away for emergency cardiac help.

• What to do in an emergency

  In a life-threatening situation, don’t hesitate to call 000 and ask the Ambulance Service to bring you to St Andrew’s Emergency Centre. 
  
  Otherwise you can make your own way to St Andrew's Emergency Centre. You do not need a referral from your doctor to come to St Andrew's Emergency Centre.

• Our services

  Led by a team of emergency medicine specialists, our Emergency Centre is staffed by experienced doctors, nurses and support personnel, all backed by state-of-the-art equipment.

  This includes life-saving critical care resuscitation areas, bedside ultrasound and echocardiography, orthopaedic procedure rooms, a dedicated paediatric assessment room and specialised ear, nose, throat (ENT) and eye equipment. There is also onsite 24-hour expert radiology (imaging including MRI) and pathology services.

  Anyone of any age can attend our Emergency Centre – you do not require a referral from your GP. As well as other emergency assistance, we are also committed to providing expert care for all sporting injuries. In fact, our Emergency Centre offers a discount for injuries that occur while playing school or organised sports. Sporting organisations or schools get a reduced out-of-pocket consultation fee of $100* (after Medicare) when they present to our Emergency Centre with a sporting injury.

  As a War Memorial Hospital, we are proud to provide care for Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) patients. Also, WorkCover injuries can be expertly assessed and treated at our Emergency Centre and, if required, referred to St Andrew’s leading group of orthopaedic and neurosurgery specialists.

  There are no Obstetric or Psychiatric facilities at St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital. Patients requiring these specialties are advised to present to alternative hospitals with the appropriate services.

• Our fees

  You don’t need to have private health insurance to be seen in emergency – only patients requiring admission need to be insured. Whilst our Emergency Centre is a private fee-for-service facility, most patients can claim a portion of their account from Medicare.

  There is an out-of-pocket expense (GAP) for treatment at the Emergency Centre of $300 in-hours (8am-6pm Monday - Friday) and $325 out-of-hours (all other times including weekends and public holidays).  
  
  We actually have the lowest fees of any private emergency department on Brisbane’s northside. This is because the Emergency Centre is part of UnitingCare, a not-for-profit organisation, which reinvests money back into the services of the hospital.

  Accounts are prepared after the consultation. Patients are required to finalise their account after they see the doctor and before they leave the hospital. Pathology tests, x-rays and some pharmacy items are not included in the Emergency Centre account – the providers of these services bill these items separately.

  Reception staff will provide more information, answer any queries, and complete an Informed Financial Consent with you. Electronic Medicare payment, EFTPOS and credit card payment systems are available.

• Transport and parking

  We know that in an emergency, the last thing you want to be worrying about is where to park. 

  Parking is available beneath the hospital, with the entrance to the car park being adjacent to the Emergency Centre on North St. After hours car parking is also available on the street.

  With St Andrew’s Emergency Centre located on North Street, Spring Hill, patients can be dropped off and collected at the entrance.

  A free bus loop runs every 10 minutes from the city, stopping in Boundary Street.

• Phone numbers

  Emergency Centre: (07) 3834 4455

  Hotline for GPs to call: (07) 3834 4490

  Upper limb on call service: 1300 263 463 (available to GPs and emergency doctors)