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EMERGENCY

In an emergency, always call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. Ambulances are the safest way to be assessed, treated and transported to the right hospital for the care you need.

Triple zero (000) is a free call from any phone, mobile or phone box.

For less severe but still urgent situations, go to an Emergency Department.

There are 12 public hospital Emergency Departments in Northern NSW Local Health District and they are all available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Emergency departments are located at:

Byron Central Hospital staff celebrate their top score for cleanliness.
Published: 11 Dec 2025

Patients who attended emergency departments (EDs) in Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) during the 2024-25 financial year have given their nurses, doctors, administration and support staff a positive scorecard in the latest patient experience survey.

The Bureau of Health Information’s Emergency Department Patient Survey provides a snapshot of the experiences of 2,449 patients who attended NNSWLHD’s EDs from July 2024 to June 2025.

Nine in ten patients surveyed (90 per cent) rated the care they received as ‘very good’ or ‘good’, with the vast majority (93 per cent) rating the ED health professionals who treated them as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.

Healthcare teams were also praised for their compassionate approach to care, with 87 per cent of respondents indicating their health professionals were ‘always’ kind and caring, and 86 percent saying the staff they met on arrival were ‘polite and welcoming’.

Cleaners were once again recognised for their excellent efforts in contributing to a positive patient experience, with 88 percent of patients agreeing the ED treatment areas were ‘very clean’, the highest result in the state.

NNSWLHD rated significantly higher than the state average in 25 key measures, the most of any local health district, including those relating to care, communication, kindness and environments.

Northern NSW Local Health District Chief Executive Tracey Maisey said creating a positive patient experience was a team effort and praised the collaboration between all staff involved in patient care and support.

“I’m incredibly proud of all our healthcare staff for the kind, skilled and attentive care they provide to our patients, and I include all our support staff such as administration staff, cleaners, wardspeople, linen and kitchen staff in this as well.

“You cannot deliver excellent care without everyone working to a shared goal, which is getting the best outcome for our patients, and that’s what our teams are doing here,” Ms Maisey said.

“We know how important it is to make sure patients feel comfortable and listened to when they’re in our facilities, so it’s wonderful to see these sentiments reflected in the patient survey.”

Several hospitals, including Ballina, Byron Central, Maclean and Tweed Valley received a number of results significantly above the NSW average, across areas from overall care and treatment, to teamwork, communication and cleanliness.

Murwillumbah District Hospital recorded 28 results significantly above the state average, more than any other hospital in NSW.  Of respondents, 94 per cent of patients said their health professionals were ‘always kind and caring’, the top result in the state.

Byron Central Hospital was once again given the top score in the state for cleanliness, with 97 per cent of patients agreeing the ED was ‘definitely clean’.

Individual hospital highlights:

BALLINA DISTRICT HOSPITAL: 
-    91 per cent of patients rated the overall care they received as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
-    95 per cent rated the health professionals who treated them as ‘very good’ or ‘good’
-    79 per cent agreed they ‘definitely’ received safe, high-quality care.
-    84 per cent said they ‘definitely’ had trust and confidence in the ED health professionals treating them.

BYRON CENTRAL HOSPITAL: 
-    92 per cent of patients rated the overall care they received as ‘very good’ or ‘good’
-    94 per cent rated their health professionals as ‘very good’ or ‘good’. 
-    86 per cent said staff were ‘always’ kind and caring 
-    97 per cent of patients said the ED areas were ‘definitely’ clean 
-    In total, Byron Central Hospital recorded 11 results significantly above the NSW average.

CASINO & DISTRICT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL: 
-    95 per cent rated the overall care they received as ‘very good’ or ‘good.’ 
-    96 per cent rated their health professionals as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.  
-    83 per cent agreed they ‘definitely’ received safe, high-quality care.
-    89 per cent said the staff they met on arrival were ‘definitely’ polite and welcoming.

GRAFTON BASE HOSPITAL: 
-    86 per cent of patients rated their overall care as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
-    90 per cent rated the health professionals who treated them as ‘very good’ or ‘good’. 
-    84 per cent said the staff they met on arrival were ‘definitely’ polite and welcoming. 
-    87 per cent of patients said they were ‘always’ treated with respect and dignity.

LISMORE BASE HOSPITAL: 
-    83 per cent of patients rated their overall care as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
-    88 per cent rating their health professionals as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
-    84 per cent said the health professionals were ‘always’ kind and caring.  
-    85 per cent of patients said they were ‘always’ treated with respect and dignity.

MACLEAN DISTRICT HOSPITAL: 
-    93 per cent of patients rated their overall care as ‘very good’ or ‘good’, and their health professionals as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
-    90 per cent said the health professionals were ‘always’ kind and caring
-    85 per cent agreed they ‘definitely’ received safe, high-quality care.
-    92 per cent of patients said the ED areas were ‘definitely’ clean
-    In total, Maclean recorded 13 results significantly above the NSW state average.

MURWILLUMBAH DISTRICT HOSPITAL: 
-    96 per cent of patients rated the overall care they received as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
-    98 per cent rated their health professionals as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
-    89 per cent agreed they ‘definitely’ received safe, high-quality care.
-    94 per cent said the health professionals were ‘always’ kind and caring
-    93 per cent of patients said the ED areas were ‘definitely’ clean
-    In total, Murwillumbah recorded 28 results significantly above the NSW state average.

TWEED VALLEY HOSPITAL: 
-    91 per cent of patients rated the overall care they received as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
-    93 percent rated their health professionals as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
-    85 per cent agreed they ‘definitely’ received safe, high-quality care.
-    91 per cent said the health professionals were ‘always’ kind and caring. 
-    In total, Tweed Valley recorded 14 results significantly above the NSW state average. 

PHOTO: Staff at Byron Central Hospital celebrate after once again being given the top score in the state for cleanliness in the latest BHI Emergency Department Patient Survey, with 97 per cent of patients agreeing the ED was ‘definitely clean’.