Hospitals in Townsville: emergency, specialist and maternity services
A practical guide to public and private hospitals serving Townsville and the surrounding region, plus when to choose emergency, urgent care or your GP.
Public hospitals in Townsville
Townsville University Hospital (100 Angus Smith Drive, Douglas) is the major tertiary referral hospital for North Queensland. Services include the emergency department, maternity and birth suite, cancer and haematology, cardiac care, major trauma, neuroscience and paediatrics. ED address: 100 Angus Smith Drive, Douglas QLD 4814. Outpatient and specialist clinics are also based on this campus.
Emergency vs urgent care vs GP
Call 000 for life-threatening situations: chest pain, suspected stroke (face droop, arm weakness, speech difficulty), severe breathing difficulty or major trauma. Go to the emergency department for serious but not life-threatening problems: suspected broken bones, severe abdominal pain, high fever with rash, deep cuts, head injuries with vomiting. See a GP or use urgent care for minor illness and injury: coughs, ear infections, sprains, scripts, rashes.
Emergency wait times
Queensland Health publishes live ED wait times for major public hospitals, including Townsville University Hospital, so you can check before driving in. Check current ED wait times.
Private hospitals in Townsville
Townsville also has private hospital options, typically used for elective surgery, planned maternity and specialist day procedures: Mater Private Hospital Townsville, Townsville Private Hospital and St Vincent's Private Hospital Townsville. Major health funds are accepted, including Medibank, Bupa, HBF, HCF and NIB. Confirm cover and any out-of-pocket gap with both the hospital and your fund before admission.
Ambulance services in Townsville
Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) responds to emergencies on 000. Queensland residents are covered for ambulance through the Queensland Ambulance Levy, which is included in electricity bills, so you do not need a separate ambulance subscription. Interstate residents and visitors should check their own cover.