When Should You Visit an Emergency Department?

Emergency departments (EDs) are designed to provide immediate care for serious and life-threatening conditions. However, many people visit emergency departments for conditions that could be treated more appropriately elsewhere. Understanding when to use the ED and when to seek alternative care can help you receive the right treatment faster and reduce strain on the healthcare system.

When You Should Go to the Emergency Department

You should go to the emergency department or call 000 for conditions that are serious, life-threatening, or require immediate medical attention. These include:

Chest Pain and Heart Symptoms

• Chest pain, pressure, or tightness, especially if radiating to arms, neck, or jaw
• Sudden severe shortness of breath
• Heart palpitations with dizziness or fainting
• Signs of stroke: sudden weakness on one side, facial drooping, slurred speech

Severe Injuries

• Major trauma from accidents
• Deep wounds with heavy bleeding that will not stop
• Burns larger than your palm or on face, hands, feet, or genitals
• Suspected broken bones, especially if bone is visible or limb is deformed
• Head injuries with loss of consciousness, confusion, or vomiting
• Spinal injuries or inability to move limbs

Severe Medical Conditions

• Sudden severe headache (worst headache of your life)
• Seizures, especially if lasting more than 5 minutes or in someone without epilepsy
• Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) with difficulty breathing or swelling
• Signs of meningitis: severe headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, and fever
• Diabetic emergencies with altered consciousness
• Poisoning or drug overdose

Mental Health Emergencies

• Active suicidal thoughts or suicide attempt
• Severe psychiatric crisis requiring immediate intervention
• Psychotic episodes with potential for self-harm or harm to others

Alternatives to the Emergency Department

For non-emergency situations, there are often better options that can provide faster and more appropriate care:

Your Regular GP

For most non-urgent health concerns, your GP should be your first port of call. GPs can treat common illnesses, infections, minor injuries, and chronic conditions. Many clinics offer same-day appointments for urgent but non-emergency situations.

After-Hours GP Services

If you need care outside normal business hours but your condition is not an emergency, after-hours GP services are a good option. Some services offer home visits, which can be particularly helpful for elderly patients or those with mobility issues. These services are often bulk billed.

Urgent Care Clinics

Some areas have urgent care clinics that bridge the gap between GP clinics and emergency departments. These clinics can handle conditions that need prompt attention but are not life-threatening, such as minor fractures, lacerations requiring stitches, or moderate infections.

Pharmacist Advice

For minor ailments, your pharmacist can provide advice and recommend over-the-counter treatments. Pharmacies are often conveniently located with extended hours and can help with conditions like mild allergies, cold symptoms, minor skin irritations, and digestive issues.

Healthdirect Helpline

If you are unsure whether your condition requires emergency care, you can call the Healthdirect helpline (1800 022 222) for free health advice from registered nurses, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What Happens at the Emergency Department

Understanding the ED process can help you know what to expect:

Triage

When you arrive at the ED, a triage nurse will assess your condition and assign a category from 1 to 5 based on urgency:

• Category 1: Immediate, life-threatening conditions
• Category 2: Emergency, conditions that should be seen within 10 minutes
• Category 3: Urgent, conditions that should be seen within 30 minutes
• Category 4: Semi-urgent, conditions that should be seen within 60 minutes
• Category 5: Non-urgent, conditions that should be seen within 120 minutes

Patients are seen based on the severity of their condition, not the order of arrival. This means someone who arrives after you may be seen first if their condition is more serious.

Wait Times

Wait times in emergency departments can be lengthy, particularly for less urgent conditions. During busy periods, non-urgent patients may wait several hours. This is one reason why seeking appropriate care elsewhere for non-emergencies can be beneficial for you as well as for the healthcare system.

Find Emergency Services Near You

While we hope you never need emergency care, it is wise to know where your nearest hospital emergency department is located. Use our hospital directory to find hospitals and emergency departments in your area.

For non-emergency healthcare needs, explore our GP directory to find a general practitioner near you.