Emergencies
Our emergency department (ED) at Rockingham General Hospital provides emergency medical care due to a serious accident or sudden illness.
The ED is open 24-hours a day, every day of the year and is located on Elanora Drive, Cooloongup (external site).
Please be aware that patients are seen in order of illness severity, and not in order of attendance. If another patient comes to the emergency department with a more serious condition, you will need to wait. We thank you for your patience and understanding.
Read about other support and immediate services for people in crisis or needing urgent medical care (Healthy WA).
Dental emergencies
The Emergency Department does not provide emergency dental services.
Visit Dental Health Services (external site) for information about how to access emergency dental care.
The University of Western Australia Dental School operates an after hours emergency treatment clinic (external site).
Please remember, a positive COVID-19 result does not mean you need to present to an emergency department. You should only come to an emergency department if you require urgent medical attention.
Most people will only have mild symptoms that require symptomatic management with simple paracetamol and good hydration.
Read what do if you have COVID-19 or are a close contact (Healthy WA).
A large network of GP practices within the Perth metropolitan area provide GP urgent care services to patients so they receive the most appropriate care without the need to attend an emergency department.
Minor injuries and illness that can be treated at a GP urgent care clinic include:
- musculoskeletal and orthopaedic injuries
- gastrointestinal illnesses
- illnesses of the eye, ear, nose and throat
- stings, bites, rashes and wound infections
- abrasions and minor lacerations.
If you are coming into our emergency department, if possible please bring with you:
- your Medicare Card
- any other entitlement cards (health care/pension/veterans’/safety net)
- your passport/health insurance details (overseas visitors/students)
- details of your private health insurance if you want to be admitted as a private patient (external site)
- your current medications including over the counter medications (or a list)
- any x-rays/ultrasounds/scans that may be related to your condition
- your work contact details if your condition is covered by Workers’ Compensation
- the name of your general practitioner (GP).
Please see the triage nurse first, who will ask questions and assess your condition to determine if your level of priority is:
- immediate (life threatening)
- very urgent
- urgent
- standard
- non-urgent.
Some patients need to be taken straight into the emergency department. Others will be directed to the waiting room.
While you are waiting, please inform the triage nurse if:
- your condition worsens
- you decide to seek treatment elsewhere.
Once you are inside the emergency department, you will undergo a thorough assessment by a team of nursing and medical staff.
Tests and procedures will be carried out when necessary. The team will review your test results and provide emergency treatment, and will then decide to either:
- allow you to return home with a referral if necessary for further care, such as a follow-up appointment with your local doctor or an outpatient appointment
- monitor your condition for a few hours before making a decision
- admit you to the hospital for further care.
Sometimes patients must wait for test results or for a ward bed to become available. This may cause unavoidable delays in the emergency department. Our staff will continue to care for you until you are able to go to a ward or be discharged home.
Aishwarya’s CARE Call
Aishwarya’s CARE Call is a three-step process for you as a patient, carer or family member to use if you are worried you or the person you care for is getting sicker while in hospital.
Read what to do if you are worried you or the person you care for is getting sicker while in hospital.
Other South Metropolitan Health Service emergency departments
Fiona Stanley Hospital
Street address: 11 Robin Warren Drive, Murdoch
Phone: 6152 2222
Read about Fiona Stanley Hospital (external site)
Peel Health Campus
Street address: 110 Lakes Road, Mandurah
Telephone: 9531 8000
Read about Peel Health Campus (external site)
Other metropolitan emergency departments
- Armadale Health Service (external site)
- Joondalup Health Campus (external site)
- King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women (external site)
- Perth Children's Hospital (external site)
- Royal Perth Hospital (external site)
- Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (external site)
- St John of God Midland Public Hospital (external site)
- St John of God Murdoch Hospital (external site).
See metropolitan emergency department wait times
WA Health's emergency department activity page (external site) provides an up-to-date view of the status of the emergency departments in each of the metropolitan public hospitals.
This site provides current information on the average wait times and the number of patients waiting to be seen.
Other services available to assist you if you have an urgent medical condition include:
- Healthdirect Australia (external site) a (24-hour health advice) – phone 1800 022 222
- Mental Health Emergency Response Line (external site) (metropolitan area) – phone 1300 555 788
- Poisons Information Centre – phone 13 11 26.
Location
Rockingham General Hospital is located on Elanora Drive, Cooloongup (external site).
Aishwarya’s CARE Call
Read what to do if you are worried you or the person you care for is getting sicker while in hospital.
