Western Health Emergency Departments (EDs) are located at Sunshine Hospital, Footscray Hospital and the Williamstown Hospital.
Emergency Department Details
| | Footscray
Hospital | Sunshine Hospital | Williamstown Hospital* |
Services
Offered | All adult emergencies | Paediatric, women's health and adult emergencies | Adult urgent care. The Department is not appropriate for time critical emergency or major trauma* |
Telephone
(GP Only) | 8345 7235
| Adults 8345 1599 Paediatrics 8345 0540 | 9393 0170 |
| 8am-11pm ask for Emergency Physician.
11pm - 8am ask for the Senior Emergency Registrar | Adult
8am-11pm ask for Emergency Physician
11pm - 8am ask for the Senior Emergency Registrar
Paediatric
8am-11pm as for Emergency Paediatric Consultant (if unavailable to Senior ED Paediatric Registrar)
11pm-8am as for Senior ED Paed Registrar
| 8am -10.30pm |
Location | Eleanor Street, Footscray | Furlong Road, St Albans | Railway Crescent, Williamstown |
Hours | 24 hours | 24 hours | 8.00am - 10.30pm
(For emergencies outside the opening hours, patients should be referred directly to Western or Sunshine Hospitals) |
Clinical Director | Dr Michael Bryant | Dr Peter Ritchie | Dr Allen Yuen |
*Williamstown Hospital Services
Williamstown Hospital ED is capable of handling most emergencies, with the following restrictions:
Major/multiple trauma (which should be transported to the two Major Trauma Centres, Royal Melbourne Hospital or The Alfred.
Neonates (refer to Royal Children's Hospital)
Acute psychosis (refer to Sunshine Hospital)
The Williamstown Emergency Department offers adult urgent care and is not appropriate for time critical emergency or major trauma.
If any patient attending Williamstown ED requires admission patients are transferred to:
How to Refer to Emergency Department
GPs should initially refer patients to the ED by phone
Footscray Emergency Department 8345-7200
Sunshine Emergency Department - Adult 8345 1599 Paediatric 8345 0540
Williamstown Emergency Department - 9393 0170
The Emergency Department will require:
the referring GPs name and contact details
the patient's name, date of birth, address, past medical history, current medications, the current problem and any relevant treatment or investigations. If blood tests/x-rays etc. have been done in the community please ensure the patient has a copy (if possible)
Unsure about whether a patient needs assessment at ED? Need Advice?
Where there is doubt about whether attendance at the Emergency Department is required, or urgent advice is sought, GPs are encouraged to call the Duty Emergency Physician or Registrar at the relevant ED. They can provide advice over the phone and recommend the best course of action for your patient.
Non-time critical orthopaedic and plastic cases
For orthopaedic and plastics cases that are not time critical, we recommend GPs contact the relevant registrar via the switchboard 8345 6666 and arrange for the patient to be reviewed. This will save the patient waiting many hours in the ED.
Other services to support ED - Western Health Immediate Response Service
The Immediate Response Service (IRS), incorporating the Aged Care Liaison Service, operates from Western Hospital Footscray and Sunshine Hospital EDs, with consultancy to Williamstown Hospital, from 8.00am-9.00pm 7 days per week.
The Immediate Response Service is a multidisciplinary, rapid assessment and short term service coordination outreach team for people who are likely to present to a Western Health ED with low acuity event and do not require Ambulance assistance and ED consultation.
Services offered
Comprehensive assessment, health management and care coordination for non acute patients in the Emergency Department.
Specialised Aged Care Nursing, Pharmacist, Drug & Alcohol, and Allied Health clinical consultations
Mobile outreach visits to people in their own home /residential care facility whose health concern could be managed there, rather than presenting to the Emergency Department.
Clinical support and advice.
Eligible patients
People who are likely to present to the Emergency Department with low acuity events and do not require Ambulance assistance and Emergency Department consultation.
Residents from Residential Aged care facilities who are suitable to have acute interventions in their facilities by our clinical nurse consultant team
This may be people who:
Have mobility problems, falls history
Have medication concerns, difficulty complying with treatment
Require PEG/ IDC / wound management advice
Have difficulty managing at home and need community services
Require support with managing chronic health conditions
RACF residents who require subcutaneous fluids or intravenous antibiotics
How to refer to Immediate Response Service
If you have a patient that you think may be benefit from the IRS please contact Intake on 0419 392 030
Contact Us
Footscray Hospital Emergency Department
Phone: 8345 7234
Sunshine Emergency Department
Phone: Adult 8345 1599 Paediatric 8345 0540
Williamstown Emergency Department
Phone: 9393 0170
Immediate Response Service/Aged Care Liaison
Phone: 0419392030
