Royal Darwin Hospital

Introduction

The Royal Darwin Hospital is a 360-bed public hospital that has a large range of services in all specialty areas.

This guide has information about making an appointment, services, visiting and parking, as well as hospital contact details.

Going to emergency

Royal Darwin Hospital's emergency department is open 24 hours. You do not need an appointment.

Demand for these services is very high. To ensure they're available for those who need it most, avoid going to the emergency department unless you need urgent medical attention.

If you're not sure what to do, contact Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for advice from a registered nurse on how to manage your injury or illness. Healthdirect is a free service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For more information, go to the Healthdirect website.

Being admitted to hospital

Find out about what you should bring and other information if you are being admitted to Royal Darwin Hospital.


Outpatient department

To see a specialist in the outpatient department (OPD), you must have a written referral from an authorised healthcare professional.

Without this referral, you cannot make an appointment.

Find out more below.

Once your referral has been reviewed by the specialist, you will be:

  • placed on the waiting list
  • sent a waitlist letter.

When a non-urgent appointment becomes available, you will be sent an appointment letter.

If your appointment is urgent, you will be contacted on the phone number that’s on record. This is so the OPD can reach you in time for you to attend your appointment.

If you have a mobile phone, you will also receive a text message 3 days before to remind you about your appointment.

You must notify the OPD if:

  • your phone number or address changes
  • you no longer need your appointment.

Getting help from an interpreter

If you need help to understand information at your appointment, you can request an interpreter.

They can be:

  • present at the appointment
  • available via video conference or over the phone.

This service is free for you and can be requested when your appointment is booked with OPD.

You can also book an interpreter yourself. Find out how to book an interpreter for Aboriginal languages or non-Aboriginal languages.

You should arrive on time for your appointment. If you're late, the doctor may not be able to see you.

You must also bring your:

  • current Medicare, concession, Veterans Affairs or defence personnel card – if you don’t have one of these cards, you may be charged extra fees
  • recent tests you may have had such as:
    • blood results
    • x-rays
    • scans
  • current medications or a written list of them
  • appointment letter or text message.

To keep you busy while you wait for the doctor, you may also want to bring a book or magazine.

To find the OPD, follow the signs from the hospital’s main entrance or ask a way finders for assistance.

Find out how to get to Royal Darwin Hospital and where to park PDF (336.7 KB).

In emergency situations, your appointment may be postponed. If this happens, you will be offered a new appointment.

If you cannot attend your appointment, you must give the OPD at least 24 hours’ notice so they can offer that appointment to another patient. They will also reschedule your appointment to the next one available.

If you don’t attend your appointment, you should contact the OPD within 30 days. If you don’t, you may be discharged from the waiting list.

Your medical history will also be reviewed by a specialist. They will decide if you still need care. If they decide, you:

  • still need care, OPD will book you another appointment
  • no longer need care, you may be removed from the waiting list.

They will also consider your circumstances if you’re experiencing genuine hardship or are disadvantaged.

Contact

The OPD are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm except all public holidays in the Northern Territory.

To submit your referral, email rdhopdreferrals.doh@nt.gov.au.

If you want to reschedule or cancel your appointment, call 08 8922 8699 or email rdhopd.ths@nt.gov.au.


Services at Royal Darwin Hospital

To contact the services listed below, call the switchboard on 08 8922 8888.

Medicine

  • cardiology
  • dermatology
  • gastroenterology
  • infectious diseases
  • general medicine
  • hyperbaric medicine
  • neurology
  • ophthalmology
  • oncology
  • haematology
  • rehabilitation
  • renal
  • respiratory medicine
  • rheumatology
  • sleep studies
  • endocrinology
  • pain management
  • hospital in the home
  • anaesthetics
  • palliative medicine.

Surgery

  • ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgery
  • oro-maxillo facial (OMF) surgery
  • orthopaedic
  • urology
  • general surgery
  • paediatric general surgery
  • plastics surgery
  • ophthalmology.

Allied health services

Inpatient allied health services are available on the wards at Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospitals. Patients transitioning home may also be referred to services.

Allied health professionals work as part of a multidisciplinary team with nursing and medical staff.

Clinical support services

  • CT scan and MRI
  • Aboriginal liaison
  • interpreter services.

Maternal and child health

  • obstetrics
  • reproductive medicine
  • paediatrics
  • gynaecology.

Other

  • outreach specialist and allied health services to Palmerston Health Precinct, rural and remote regions and clinical and retrieval support to regional hospitals
  • teaching and reference services for northern Australia and Southeast Asia, with rural and remote medical training placements
  • pharmaceutical services for the hospital and surrounding community area
  • 24 hour emergency and critical care and support for air medical service
  • renal satellite services at Nightcliff, Palmerston and Tiwi.

Hospital shuttle bus service

You can catch a shuttle bus between the Royal Darwin and Palmerston hospitals.

To use the service, you must be a patient or approved escort who is travelling for a medical appointment.

The service can't cater for electronic wheelchairs or mobility scooters.

Where to catch the shuttle

Passengers are picked up and dropped off outside the main hospital entrances.

Timetable

The shuttle runs every weekday except public holidays. Bookings are required.

The below timetable may change without notice. You should check the timetable on the day you are travelling to confirm departure times.

Services to Palmerston Regional Hospital

Depart
Royal Darwin Hospital
Arrive
Palmerston Regional Hospital
6:15am * 7am
9:15am 10am
12:15pm 1pm
3:15pm 4pm
6:15pm * 7pm

Services to Royal Darwin Hospital

Depart
Palmerston Regional Hospital
Arrive
Royal Darwin Hospital
7:15am * 8am
10:15am 11am
1:15pm 2pm
4:15pm 5pm
7:15pm *8pm

* Where there are no bookings in either direction, affected services may be cancelled.

Contact

For more information about this service or to make a booking contact 08 8922 6777 or email tepts.ths@nt.gov.au.


Visiting Royal Darwin Hospital

Visitors can apply for an exemption in special circumstances.

To apply, call the switchboard on 08 8922 8888, and ask to speak to the:

  • ward clinical nurse manager during business hours
  • hospital resources coordinator after hours.

Visitor screening and masks

All visitors except children under 2 must wear a surgical mask at all times.

Patients being visited will also have to wear a surgical mask (if tolerated).

Stay up to date with the latest information on the NT Health website.

If you're driving to the RDH, find parking at Royal Darwin Hospital.

Visiting during a COVID-19 lockdown or lockout

Visiting arrangements at Northern Territory hospitals are restricted during lockdowns and lockouts to keep patients, staff and the community safe.

Gifts

Visitors should ask nursing staff before bringing lollies, food and drinks.

Some items may not be allowed while the patient is having a course of treatment.


Parking at Royal Darwin Hospital

Parking at the hospital is free for four hours in the main patient and visitor car parks shown on the map below.

You will need to print a ticket and display it in your vehicle between 7am and 5pm.

You will need to move your vehicle to a general car park after four hours. If parking after 5pm you still need to print a ticket but have until 8.30am to move your car.

In other general free car parks, you do not need to print a ticket and display it in your vehicle.

You must park within marked bays and parking areas and follow the directions on signs.

Parking in the undercover drop-off zone near the Emergency Department and main entrance is for pick-up and set-down only. You need to stay with your vehicle.

You can't park on verges and grassed areas within the campus boundaries unless there are signs saying you can do so.

You can't park in reserved bays or areas reserved for ambulances, police or on-call medical staff.

You can be fined if you don't follow the conditions.

If you can't get back to your car within four hours for medical reasons, you can ask nursing staff to fill in a medical waiver form.

You can use a medical waiver form to get a fine reversed.

You can apply for an exemption from parking time limits if you are a patient who visits the hospital a lot.

This includes chemotherapy and radiotherapy patients.

You will need to meet conditions. To find out more contact Parking Services using the details listed below.

If you receive a parking fine you must pay it within 28 days.

If you don't pay after 28 days you will get an extra charge of $33.

If you don't pay the fine for another 28 days you will get further charges or penalties.

These fines are enforceable by law.

How to pay for your fine

You can pay for your fine online, by phone, by cheque, by post or in person:

Pay your fine online.

To pay by phone call 1300 010 116.

To pay in person, go to the Receiver of Territory Monies office on the ground floor of the hospital between 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday. The office accepts Visa, MasterCard, cheque or cash.

To pay by post, attach a cheque with your fine and post to Parking Infringements at the address listed below.

Appeal your fine

To appeal your parking fine, you need to fill in the infringement appeal form.

Submit your appeal form in person, by post or by email using the contact details below.

During front entrance renovations, the Parking Services Office is located in the Engineering Office on the lower ground floor of the Royal Darwin Hospital.

Appeal forms are also available at the temporary reception counter in the front entrance.

The office is open from 8am to 4pm.

PO Box 41326
Casuarina NT 0811 
Phone: 08 8922 6754
rdhcarparkfeedback.doh@nt.gov.au


Contact Royal Darwin Hospital

Royal Darwin Hospital
Rocklands Drive, Tiwi
PO Box 41326
Casuarina NT 0811

Phone: (08) 8922 8888
Fax: (08) 8922 8286
registryrdh.ths@nt.gov.au

Patient advocates

There are patient advocates at the Royal Darwin Hospital that can support you while you're in hospital.

Phone: (08) 8922 8824
patientadvocaterdh.doh@nt.gov.au

Complaints and feedback

You can make a complaint, suggestion or ask a question about hospital services on the Department of Health website.

How to get there

To get to the Royal Darwin Hospital using public transport view the public bus timetables and maps for Darwin.


Volunteers at Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospitals

Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospital is supported by volunteers who work alongside hospital staff to provide support to patients and their families.

Volunteers are local community members who provide services such as:

  • welcoming visitors and providing directions, assistance and information at hospital reception
  • assisting patients, their families, friends and carers to find their way around the hospital
  • assisting with activities that will help patients pass the time or make their stay in hospital more comfortable.

Volunteering at the hospital can be rewarding. As a volunteer you can:

  • build friendships and networks
  • increase your confidence and achieve self-satisfaction
  • enjoy working in a friendly team
  • develop your skills and knowledge
  • be involved in decisions about programs and services
  • feel appreciated by making a difference.

Before you become a volunteer

Volunteer opportunities are available at Royal Darwin Hospital and Palmerston Regional Hospital.

To become a volunteer you will need a current police check and working with children clearance.

You must be able to commit at least four hours per fortnight.

Read more about volunteering:

How to apply

You must complete an expression of interest.

Email your application to the rdphvolunteers.doh@nt.gov.au.

More information

For more information email rdphvolunteers.doh@nt.gov.au or call 08 8922 6164.