Department of Health

For assistance with major trauma patients:

Direct all adult trauma-related enquiries to Adult Retrieval VictoriaExternal Link on 1300 36 86 61.

Direct all paediatric, neonatal and perinatal trauma-related enquiries to PIPERExternal Link on 1300 137 650.

Levels of care

Trauma services are designated into levels of care. These designations reflect the services' role in the Victorian State Trauma System only.

These are:

  • Major Trauma Services
  • Metropolitan Trauma Services
  • Metropolitan Primary Care Services
  • Regional Trauma Services
  • Urgent Care Services
  • Primary Care Services.

Major Trauma Services

As the centres of expertise in trauma management, Major Trauma Services (MTS) are responsible for providing definitive care to major trauma patients, either through primary triage or secondary transfer.

The designated adult MTS are:

  • The Royal Melbourne Hospital
  • The Alfred Hospital.

The designated paediatric MTS is The Royal Children’s Hospital.

Metropolitan Trauma Services

Metropolitan Trauma Services (MeTS) provide second level adult and paediatric trauma care in Melbourne. The designated MeTS are:

  • Austin Health
  • Box Hill Hospital
  • The Northern Hospital
  • Monash Medical Centre, Clayton Campus
  • Dandenong Hospital.

Adult only MeTS

The following are designated MeTS hospitals for adult patients only:

  • Maroondah Hospital
  • St Vincent’s Hospital
  • Western Hospital.

Metropolitan Primary Care Services

Metropolitan Primary Care Services (MPCS) provide the third level of adult and paediatric trauma care in Melbourne.

The designated PCS in Melbourne are:

  • Sandringham and District Memorial Hospital
  • Angliss Hospital
  • Epworth Hospital
  • Knox Private Hospital
  • Werribee Mercy Hospital
  • Rosebud Hospital
  • Monash Medical Centre, Moorabbin Campus
  • Casey Hospital
  • Sunshine Hospital
  • Williamstown Hospital.

Regional Trauma Services

Regional Trauma Services (RTS) are located in major regional centres and receive appropriate referrals from surrounding catchment areas.

RTS provide resuscitation and stabilisation of major trauma patients prior to their transfer to a MTS.

They also provide definitive care for a limited number of major trauma patients where their injuries are assessed, in agreement with an MTS, as not requiring a transfer.

  • Regional Trauma Services

    • Geelong
    • Hamilton
    • Warrnambool

    Urgent Care Services

    • Apollo Bay
    • Camperdown
    • Casterton
    • Colac
    • Lorne
    • Port Fairy
    • Portland
    • Timboon
    • Winchelsea

    Primary Care Services

    • Balmoral
    • Birregurra
    • Cobden
    • Coleraine
    • Dartmoor
    • Harrow
    • Heywood
    • Lismore
    • Merino
    • Mortlake
    • Penshurst
    • Skipton
    • Terang
  • Regional Trauma Services

    • Ballarat
    • Horsham

    Urgent Care Services

    • Ararat
    • Ballarat SJOG
    • Daylesford
    • Edenhope
    • Nhill
    • St Arnaud
    • St Arnaud
    • Stawell
    • Warracknabeal

    Primary Care Services

    • Bacchus Marsh
    • Ballan
    • Beaufort
    • Beeac
    • Creswick
    • Dimboola
    • Elmhurst
    • Hopetoun
    • Jeparit
    • Kaniva
    • Lake Bolac
    • Rainbow
    • Rokewood
    • Rupanyup
    • Woomelang
  • Regional Trauma Services

    • Bendigo
    • Mildura

    Urgent Care Services

    • Castlemaine
    • Cohuna
    • Echuca
    • Kerang
    • Kyabram
    • Kyneton
    • Maryborough
    • Swan Hill

    Primary Care Services

    • Birchip
    • Boort
    • Charlton
    • Dingee
    • Donald
    • Heathcote
    • Inglewood
    • Lockington
    • Maldon
    • Ouyen
    • Robinvale
    • Rochester
    • Wycheproof
  • Regional Trauma Services

    • Albury
    • Shepparton
    • Wangaratta

    Urgent Care Services

    • Alexandra
    • Benalla
    • Bright
    • Cobram
    • Corryong
    • Kilmore
    • Mansfield
    • Mt Beauty
    • Myrtleford
    • Nathalia
    • Numurkah
    • Seymour
    • Wodonga
    • Yarrawonga
    • Yea

    Primary Care Services

    • Beechworth
    • Euroa
    • Falls Creek (seasonal service)
    • Mt Buller (seasonal service)
    • Mt Hotham (seasonal service)
    • Nagambie
    • Tallangatta
    • Walwa
  • Regional Trauma Services

    • Traralgon

    Urgent Care Services

    • Bairnsdale
    • Foster
    • Korumburra
    • Leongatha
    • Orbost
    • Sale
    • Warragul
    • Wonthaggi

    Primary Care Services

    • Buchan
    • Cann Valley
    • Dargo
    • Ensay
    • Gelantipy
    • Heyfield
    • Neerim
    • Omeo
    • Swifts Creek

Urgent Care Services

Urgent Care Services (UCS) are located in small rural communities where higher levels of trauma care are not available.

UCS provides initial resuscitation and a limited stabilisation capacity prior to early transfer to a Regional or Major Trauma Service.

Primary Care Services

Primary Care Services (PCS) are located in small rural communities and provide limited resuscitation prior to early transfer to a Regional or Major Trauma Service.

Rural and regional resuscitation, stabilisation and transportation

Rural and regional trauma services provide resuscitation and stabilisation of major trauma patients and organise patient transport to a Major Trauma Service (MTS). They may also provide definitive care for a limited number of trauma patients where their injuries are assessed, in agreement with Adult Retrieval Victoria or with a Major Trauma Service, as not requiring a transfer.

Regional and rural trauma services provide patient transfer to MTS through Adult Retrieval Victoria.

Reviewed 01 November 2023

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