Depending on the treatment and care you need during your emergency department visit, you will meet different staff members. We all wear a name badge, will introduce ourselves to you and explain why we are seeing you.
One of the most important people involved in your care is you, your family and/or carers. Find out more about participating in your care as well as some suggestions on things you might like to as your doctor.
Doctors
We have a range of doctors who specialise in different health issues or parts of the body. A doctor or a team of doctors with experience working with your health issue will be involved in deciding on what your treatment and care is best for you. As a teaching hospital, you may also be seen by doctors who are finishing their studies. You can ask your doctor about any plans for your treatment and care.
Nurses
Nurses will look after your care needs. These include things like taking blood samples, checking your temperature and blood pressure and giving you medicine if you need it. Nurses look after several patients during each shift. Your nurse may change throughout your visit to the emergency department. Our nurses wear blue scrubs.
Allied health staff
Allied health staff come from a range of different professions and are here to support you, your doctors and nurses in providing the care you need.
Our allied health staff may participate in your care while you are in the emergency department.
They include:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Service: help you with support, advocating for you and liaising with others during your stay.
- Allied health assistants: work with therapists in caring for you.
- Clinical measurement scientists such as respiratory and sleep scientists: check and improve how you sleep and breathe.
- Dietitians: help you work out the best diet for you.
- Exercise physiologists: help you to prevent and manage your chronic diseases and injuries through exercise and movement.
- Medical imaging staff: take scans and x-rays to see inside your body.
- Occupational therapists: help you be safe doing day to day tasks.
- Physiotherapists: help you get the best movement in your body.
- Pathology staff: take blood, urine and tissue samples and test them.
- Pharmacists: give you medicine and information.
- Psychologists: help you with your thoughts and emotions.
- Social workers: help you connect with your community and provide practical support.
- Speech pathologists: help you with talking and swallowing.
Non-clinical staff
Staff who are not health professionals are called non-clinical staff. They include ward clerks, wards persons, ward assistants, personal support officers, food services staff, patient support officers, customer service officers and cleaning staff. Together, they take care of the daily running of the hospital.
Handover
At the end of each shift the medical and nursing teams will share information on your condition and care with the team on the new shift to make sure everyone is up to date with your care.
