How to Request an Ambulance
There are two numbers to call for ambulance assistance: triple zero (000) for an Emergency! and 13 12 33 for a non-emergency.
The classification of an emergency or non-emergency is determined by the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) Emergency Medical Dispatcher when taking the call. If you have any doubts, please call triple zero (000) and they will advise you of the best possible course of action. If you are calling from a mobile phone and triple zero (000) does not work, call 112. In some circumstances, QAS Communications Staff will monitor the patient's condition over the phone as paramedics travel to the scene of the incident. They will alert paramedics if a faster response time is needed (ie., if the situation becomes more acute).
You should only call Triple Zero (000) if:
What happens in the Emergency Department?
"Emergency medicine is a specialty. Yes, we actually did residency training to learn how to work in the ED. This training lasted three to four years after medical school and is sometimes followed by another one to three years of additional training for subspecialty certifications, like pediatric emergency medicine, toxicology, hyperbaric and undersea medicine to name a few. In addition to being specialists in medical emergencies, we are trained to be the extension of all of the other specialists in medicine to figure out whether you have an emergency and how to best direct you from there because, unlike other specialists, we are available to see you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year."
Read more https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2017/12/10-things-might-not-know-emergency-department-2.html
If you are in the emergency department with your loved one, it’s probably the worst day of your life. You’re scared, confused, anxious, sad, maybe emotionally numb. A haunting view of emergency medicine... Do read the full article. And know that you can request to see a Social Worker to help you - just ask !
In A Non-Emergency - Call 13 12 33
What is a non-emergency
Non-emergencies are usually a patient who has a pre-arranged visit to a medical facility for ongoing treatment, or transfer of a patient from one medical facility to another for specialist treatment.
Situations where a doctor may authorise routine ambulance transport are:
· If a patient requires stretcher transport
· if a patient requires active management or monitoring while in transit
· if a patient has a condition that would cause him or her to be gravely embarrassed or unacceptable to people on public transport.
When requesting an ambulance to a non-emergency, QAS requires 24 hours notice to allow us to schedule your booking. QAS Communications Staff will check that you have an authorised transport need. Please note that the QAS staff can decline to dispatch an ambulance if you do not have an authorisation certificate from a medical practitioner.
While QAS will make every attempt to meet times for pre-arranged visits, an emergency call will always take precedence over a non-emergency call.
How to report a non-emergency
· Call 13 12 33 (local call cost). You will be connected direct to the QAS and asked for the following information:
o the name, age, date of birth and gender of the patient
o the patient's home address
o the pick up location for the patient (this may be his or her residential address, medical clinic, or hospital)
o the date and time required for pick up
o the location of the medical facility the patient is going to
o the name of the medical officer (doctor) authorising the transport
o the nature of the patient's illness or injury
o any special care requirements
o any return transport requirements.
If you need emergency help during floods and storms, you can call the State Emergency Service on 132 500.
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Non-emergency numbers:
There are two numbers to call for ambulance assistance: triple zero (000) for an Emergency! and 13 12 33 for a non-emergency.
The classification of an emergency or non-emergency is determined by the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) Emergency Medical Dispatcher when taking the call. If you have any doubts, please call triple zero (000) and they will advise you of the best possible course of action. If you are calling from a mobile phone and triple zero (000) does not work, call 112. In some circumstances, QAS Communications Staff will monitor the patient's condition over the phone as paramedics travel to the scene of the incident. They will alert paramedics if a faster response time is needed (ie., if the situation becomes more acute).
You should only call Triple Zero (000) if:
- someone is seriously injured or in need of urgent medical help
- someone is experiencing chest pain eg a possible heart attack... or if they are having a stroke...
- your life or property is being threatened
- you just witnessed a serious accident or crime
What happens in the Emergency Department?
"Emergency medicine is a specialty. Yes, we actually did residency training to learn how to work in the ED. This training lasted three to four years after medical school and is sometimes followed by another one to three years of additional training for subspecialty certifications, like pediatric emergency medicine, toxicology, hyperbaric and undersea medicine to name a few. In addition to being specialists in medical emergencies, we are trained to be the extension of all of the other specialists in medicine to figure out whether you have an emergency and how to best direct you from there because, unlike other specialists, we are available to see you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year."
Read more https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2017/12/10-things-might-not-know-emergency-department-2.html
If you are in the emergency department with your loved one, it’s probably the worst day of your life. You’re scared, confused, anxious, sad, maybe emotionally numb. A haunting view of emergency medicine... Do read the full article. And know that you can request to see a Social Worker to help you - just ask !
In A Non-Emergency - Call 13 12 33
What is a non-emergency
Non-emergencies are usually a patient who has a pre-arranged visit to a medical facility for ongoing treatment, or transfer of a patient from one medical facility to another for specialist treatment.
Situations where a doctor may authorise routine ambulance transport are:
· If a patient requires stretcher transport
· if a patient requires active management or monitoring while in transit
· if a patient has a condition that would cause him or her to be gravely embarrassed or unacceptable to people on public transport.
When requesting an ambulance to a non-emergency, QAS requires 24 hours notice to allow us to schedule your booking. QAS Communications Staff will check that you have an authorised transport need. Please note that the QAS staff can decline to dispatch an ambulance if you do not have an authorisation certificate from a medical practitioner.
While QAS will make every attempt to meet times for pre-arranged visits, an emergency call will always take precedence over a non-emergency call.
How to report a non-emergency
· Call 13 12 33 (local call cost). You will be connected direct to the QAS and asked for the following information:
o the name, age, date of birth and gender of the patient
o the patient's home address
o the pick up location for the patient (this may be his or her residential address, medical clinic, or hospital)
o the date and time required for pick up
o the location of the medical facility the patient is going to
o the name of the medical officer (doctor) authorising the transport
o the nature of the patient's illness or injury
o any special care requirements
o any return transport requirements.
If you need emergency help during floods and storms, you can call the State Emergency Service on 132 500.
--------------------------
Non-emergency numbers:
- Police Assistance Line on 131 444 if you are a victim of a crime, other than life threatening or time critical emergency situations.
- Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 to provide crime information. Your call can be anonymous.