In an Emergency

In the event of a medical emergency, telephone 111 for ambulance assistance.

Alternatively, you can come directly to Gisborne Hosptial’s Emergency Department. Our Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and also offers an after hours GP service between the hours of 8pm and 10am.

It is a busy place with over 18,000 presentations a year so patients are seen based on a priority system. This system is not on a ‘first in first serve basis’ instead patients are categorised by a triage nurse on their arrival based on the severity of the condition.

Those categories are:

• Triage 1: Immediately life threatening.
• Triage 2: Imminently life threatening, or important time-critical
• Triage 3: Potentially life threatening, potential adverse outcomes from a delay of more than 30 minutes, or severe discomfort or distress.
• Triage 4: Potentially serious or potential adverse outcomes from a delay of more than 60 minutes, or significant complexity or severity or discomfort or distress.
• Triage 5: Less urgent.

 

When to see your GP

When you first become unwell, please ring your General Practice to make an appointment and see your GP early, rather than waiting for things to get worse. If you are categorised as a Triage 5 patient on your arrival at ED, you might find it more time efficient to see your GP. Reception staff can make contact with your General Practice for you on request.

 

Please keep the Emergency Department for emergencies only

If it is not an emergency, please see your GP or call Healthline on 0800 611 116 for health advice on treatment.

Healthline is a free, 24 hour a day telephone advice service which now includes the Well Child telephone advice service.

Healthline registered nurses assess a person’s condition and health needs and recommend the best course of action and a timeframe in which to take action. They can also provide general health information.

For more information on the 111 service please visit here