Emergency Departments
Western Health operates three Emergency Departments (EDs) at Footscray Hospital, Sunshine Hospital and Williamstown Hospital. Each department provides specialised emergency care and advice for patients across Melbourne’s west.
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) | (03) 8345 7237 | Adults: (03) 8345 0091 Paediatrics: (03) 8345 4501 |
(03) 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 ask for Emergency Paediatric Consultant (if unavailable, to Senior ED Paediatric Registrar). 11pm–8am ask for Senior ED Paediatric 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 opening hours, patients should be referred directly to Western or Sunshine Hospitals) |
| Clinical Director | Dr Ainslie Senz | Dr Rob Melvin | Dr Keith Nallaratnam & Dr George Douros |
*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: Footscray Hospital (adults, ICU & CCU) Sunshine Hospital (paediatrics).
How to refer to Emergency Department
GPs should initially refer patients to the ED by phone.
- Footscray Emergency Department: (03) 8345 7237
- Sunshine Emergency Department: Adult (03)8345 0091; Paediatric (03) 8345 4501
- Williamstown Emergency Department: (03) 9393 0170
The Emergency Department will require:
- the referring GP's 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).
Additional advice and support
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 (03) 6666 and arrange for the patient to be reviewed. This will save the patient waiting many hours in the ED.
Contact us
Footscray Hospital Emergency Department
Phone: (03) 8345 7237
Sunshine Emergency Department
Phone: Adult (03) 8345 0091, Paediatric (03) 8345 4501
Williamstown Emergency Department
Phone: (03) 9393 0170