Numbers every doctor in Australia should know:
- 000: emergency (ambulance, police, fire). 112 also works from mobile phones.
- 13 11 26: Poisons Information Centre, 24 hours, for patients and health professionals.
- 1800 022 222: healthdirect, a free 24-hour nurse advice line.
- 13 11 14: Lifeline crisis support.
- 1300 22 4636: Beyond Blue support service.
- 13 78 48: Quitline for smoking cessation.
- 1800 737 732: 1800RESPECT, the national family, domestic and sexual violence counselling service.
- 131 450: TIS National interpreters.
Unlike in India, ambulances in Australia are run by state ambulance services, and patients may be charged unless covered by insurance, a concession or state scheme (Queensland and Tasmania provide free ambulance for residents).
Advising a patient or carer to "call 000" for chest pain, stroke symptoms, anaphylaxis or a seizure that does not stop is a basic safety-netting step in exam answers.