Patients
Presenting at Emergency
If you have experienced an eye injury, or you are having major issues with your sight or hearing, you may need to come to Emergency at the Eye and Ear . If you are injured and require immediate assistance, telephone 000 and get an ambulance.
The Emergency Department is open 24/7 for all patients requiring urgent care and treatment for their eyes, ears, nose or throat. You can contact the Emergency Department by phone on 03 9929 8400. The Eye and Ear is a specialist hospital that treats patients with complex and urgent conditions. For routine testing, please see your Optometrist or GP.
How do I get to the Eye and Ear Emergency Department?
If you are coming via an Ambulance, they will bring you directly to the hospital. If you are coming to Emergency yourself or with a carer, the hospital is located at 32 Gisborne Street, East Melbourne. Parking is restricted and there is limited metered parking with short time restrictions. The hospital is accessible by public transport. For more information on how to get to the Eye and Ear Hospital, click here.
What happens once I get to Emergency?
A Nurse will see you on arrival and assess your condition. You will be asked for some information about yourself (your name and date of birth, your address and Medicare number and what issue brings you to Emergency). Further assessment will be undertaken by a Nurse (such as visual testing). You will then see a Doctor who will assess you and administer treatment, if required. Depending on what your condition requires will determine whether you will stay in the hospital, be booked for surgery, transfer to another hospital or be discharged home and into the care of your primary Doctor (usually your GP).
What should I bring in?
- Medicare card
- Your current medications in their original containers
- Any investigations / tests you have had performed
- Any referral letters you may have
We see patients in order of medical urgency, not by time of arrival, and therefore ask your patience when attending the Emergency Department. We recommend that if possible only the patient and one carer attends as space in the Emergency Department is limited.