Consumers
Attending an emergency department can be a daunting experience for many. You are usually seiously ill or have injured yourself. This section contains practical information for patients, carers and parents including:
Information for patients, parents and carers
General information about the emergency department
Resources developed by NSW Health to inform patients about the processes and people in the Emergency Department.
- What to expect from your visit to the emergency department - patient brochure - For this brochure in other language, please click here
Patient Experience
The Bureau for Health Information conducts annual patient experience surveys - Patient Experience Survey Portal
NSW Health has also done lots of work in regards to improving patient experience in emergency departments - NSW Health
Consumer participation
- The Consumers Health Forum of Australia maintains an interactive consumer website that includes patient stories.
- Patient Opinion is a new website that allows consumers to tell their story and have health services respond to the feedback.
Choosing Wisely Australia
A resource listing tests, treatments, and procedures clinicians and consumers should question. Specific Medical College recommendations:
- Australasian College for Emergency Medicine
- The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists
- The Royal College of Pathologists of Australia
myCompass
myCompass is an interactive self-help service that aims to promote resilience and wellbeing for all Australians. myCompass is a guide to good mental health-it poings you in the right direction. You can track your moods, write about them and view information and tips. You can also choose to do one of the modules designed to help you manage mild to moderate stress, anxiety and depression.
Mental health – 24 hour contacts
The 1800 011 511 Mental Health Line has been established to ensure that people with a mental health problem, their families and carers can access the care they need whenever and wherever they need it.
It is not an emergency service so people in a life threatening situation must still call 000 to receive immediate help.
It will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will provide a telephone triage assessment and referral service staffed by mental health clinicians. It will also be used to provide advice about clinical symptoms, the urgency of the need for care and local treatment options for service providers, such as general practitioners, police and ambulance officers.
Healthdirect
- Mindhealthconnect - mental health portal
Positive Choices
Drug and alcohol educational resources
Factsheets
Emergency Care Institute - Patient fact sheets
Mental Health and related Issues
- produced by Headspace (National Youth Mental Health Foundation)
- produced by SANE
- produced by Mental Health Association of NSW
- produced by Centre for Clinical Interventions
iCanQuit
Joint Effort - cutting cannabis use
The National Cannabit Prevention and Information Centre has developed an app to help people cut down their cannabis use or quit altogether.
Delirium
Brochure for people who have experienced delirium and for their family and carers.
Will you recognise your heart attack?
Patient resources developed by the Heart Foundation for patients with coronary heart disease
Inside Radiology
A resource for radiology consumers
DonateLife
The Organ and Tissue Authority (OTA) works with states and territories, clinicians and the community sector to deliver the Australian Government’s national reform programme to improve organ and tissue donation and transplantation outcomes in Australia.
The Australian Organ Donor Register
This enables people to record their decision about becoming an organ and tissue donor for transplantation after their death. The Australian Organ Donor Register is not for the purpose of recording decisions about donating organ and tissue for scientific research purposes or for the manufacture of biological medical products.
MotherSafe
MotherSafe provides a comprehensive counselling service for women and their healthcare providers concerned about exposures, including to medications, infection, radiation and drugs, during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
CPR Training for Parents
Healthdirect
Paediatric Epilepsy Network NSW
A web resource for families and clinicians.
NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service
Information for patients, parents and carers for non-English speaking communities
Privacy and dignity in NSW Health Services
What are your rights?