Emergency Department

Our ED provides care 24-hours a day seven days a week to patients experiencing a broad range of injuries, illnesses and conditions.

On arrival, patients are assessed by an experienced triage nurse. Using the Australasian Triage Scale the system is designed to prioritise patients who require the most urgent and immediate care, rather than on a first come, first seen basis.

It’s important to note that critically unwell patients arriving by ambulance, and patients requiring resuscitation are treated in a separate area of the ED.

Once assessed, you will continue to be monitored by triage staff whilst waiting. However, if you feel your condition is worsening, please let us know immediately.

Once you are inside the ED, you will be assessed by a team of nursing and medical staff.

Tests and procedures will be carried out where necessary. The team will review your results and provide emergency treatment, and will then decide to either:

• discharge you to return home with a referral (if appropriate) for further care, such as a follow-up appointment with your local General Practitioner or an outpatient appointment, or
• monitor your condition in the Emergency Admission Unit for a few hours before making a decision on your ongoing treatment and care, or
• admit you to the hospital for further investigation/treatment

Sometimes patients may need to be transferred to another hospital for specialist treatment that is not available at Joondalup Health Campus.

Sometimes patients must wait for test results or for a ward bed to become available. This may be compounded by COVID-19 with extra cleaning regimes and protocols in place. We apologise for any delays you experience and we thank you for your patience.

After being assessed in ED, your treating team may decide you need to be admitted to hospital for further tests or treatment. If you have private health insurance, you can choose to be admitted as a private patient to Joondalup Private Hospital.

• Some points to note when considering private admission;
  As a private patient, you will generally be admitted to a private ward in Joondalup Private Hospital (with the exception of paediatrics, ICU and some rehabilitation patients).
  NB: Paediatric boarders, public or private, receive no out of pocket accommodation charges. Private paediatric boarders receive complimentary meals. Boarders of adult patients may receive complimentary meals, dependant on their level of cover.

• Option to choose the medical or surgical consultant who will treat you
  • There will usually be some out of pocket expenses (gap fees) for private patients in relation to pathology, radiology, anaesthesia and pharmaceuticals (if you need these services)
  • As a private patient you will receive an estimate of expenses detailing the applicable health fund rebates and gap fees associated with your hospital stay.
• Private a la carte menu options during your stay
• Daily newspaper
• Foxtel is available

It is important to note that once you have elected to be admitted as either a private or a public patient this decision cannot be reversed at a later stage during your admission.

Our Patient Liaison Officers (PLOs) or hospital staff can provide information and help guide you through the admission process and assist with making the best choice for you.

If you can, please bring the following items or try to arrange for someone to bring them to you:

• a current list of any medicines you are taking
• your Medicare and private health care information
• any recent letters from doctors or specialists
• money for parking.

Please DO NOT bring along any items of value to the hospital. If you do have any items of value with you please give these to friends or family for safe keeping.