WHAT IS ROYAL DARWIN HOSPITAL?

Royal Darwin Hospital is the primary acute care facility for the Northern Territory, providing a wide range of services.

In the broader community, health care is delivered by General Practitioners and through Community Care Centres.

Royal Darwin Hospital caters for the population of Darwin and Palmerston, as well as patients from outlying communities and other centres who require acute care not available in their region.

Royal Darwin Hospital has been accredited under the Australian Council of Health Care Standards since 1997, which means it must meet high standards in the services it provides.

WHERE IS ROYAL DARWIN HOSPITAL LOCATED?

Royal Darwin Hospital (along with Darwin Private Hospital) is located on Rocklands Drive, Tiwi, on the northern side of Darwin. As you approach Casuarina, blue signs give directions to the hospital, but it is better to familiarise yourself with the Hospital's location before you may need to find it.

HOW DOES THE HOSPITAL WORK?

Royal Darwin Hospital is part of the Department of Health and Community Services, which delivers public health throughout the Territory through remote clinics, Community Care Centres and Hospitals.

Royal Darwin Hospital services are structured under Divisions of Surgery, Medicine, Maternal and Child Health and Emergency and Critical Care Medicine. Under this structure, a wide range of specialist services are provided, either through staff specialists, sessional specialists or visiting specialists.

You may be referred to Royal Darwin Hospital by a general practitioner for examination or treatment.

You may elect to be treated as a public or private patient. As a private patient, you may choose your treating doctor, but cannot be guaranteed a private room. The cost of the bed, doctor's bills, pathology and radiology are all routinely covered by health insurance.