Eye and Ear Hospital: Address, Appointment & Contact Info

East Melbourne specialist eye and ENT hospital planner

Eye and Ear Hospital emergency, specialist clinics, map and referral guide

The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, commonly searched as the Eye and Ear Hospital, is a specialist public hospital in East Melbourne for eye, ear, nose and throat care. This guide brings the useful official details into one place: address, phone numbers, Emergency Department access, appointment changes, referrals, parking, transport, surgery preparation, fees, interpreter support, disability help, patient maps and feedback contacts.

Use this page to decide whether to call 000, attend specialist Emergency, ask an optometrist/GP for referral, change an appointment, prepare for surgery, plan transport, or check possible costs before visiting.

For a life-threatening emergency in Australia, call 000. For urgent eye injury or major issues with sight or hearing, the Eye and Ear Emergency Department is open 24 hours.

1. Decide urgency000 for life-threatening emergencies; Eye and Ear ED for urgent eye/ENT issues

2. Referral pathEye referrals usually start with an optometrist; ENT referrals usually start with GP/doctor

3. AppointmentCall Patient Services only after referral acceptance or hospital contact

4. Arrive preparedBring letter, Medicare card, tests, medicines and current details

Fast contact box: address, Emergency, appointments and surgery

Main hospital

The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital

32 Gisborne Street, East Melbourne VIC 3002

General phone: 03 9929 8666

Email: patient.services@eyeandear.org.au

Emergency Department

Open 24 hours, 7 days

Emergency phone: 03 9929 8666

Emergency fax: 03 9929 8062

In an emergency, call 000.

Appointment help

Patient Services and Access

Phone: 03 9929 8500

Fax: 03 9929 8404

Email: Patient.Services@eyeandear.org.au

Need	Official contact / action	What to ask or confirm
Life-threatening emergency	Call 000	Use 000 for severe trauma, collapse, stroke symptoms, breathing difficulty, uncontrolled bleeding, poisoning or any life-threatening situation.
Urgent eye injury, sudden vision problem, or major hearing/ENT issue	Call 000 if severe, or contact/attend Eye and Ear Emergency Department	The Emergency Department is open 24 hours. The hospital says ambulance staff decide if the Eye and Ear is the right emergency destination.
General hospital enquiry	03 9929 8666	Ask for Emergency, Specialist Clinics, Surgical Services, Pharmacy, ward, feedback, interpreter support or the correct department.
Specialist clinic appointment enquiry, referral or appointment change	03 9929 8500 or Patient.Services@eyeandear.org.au	Use for appointment enquiries, accepted referral follow-up, cancellation or rescheduling.
Surgery booking or pre-admission appointment enquiry	03 9929 8553 or Surgical.Services@eyeandear.org.au	Surgical Services phone hours for changes/enquiries are Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm.
Billing / payment by phone	03 9929 8284 or 03 9929 8210	Use for Visa/Mastercard payment questions. Online payment requires the BPOINT biller code and reference number from your account.
Disability Liaison Officer	03 9929 8234, select option 3	Email: DisabilityLiaison@eyeandear.org.au. The DLO cannot change appointments or fast-track surgery.
Feedback or complaint	03 9929 8225	Email the Consumer Liaison Officer at feedback@eyeandear.org.au.

Eye and Ear Hospital map, entrances, parking and transport

The hospital is located at 32 Gisborne Street, East Melbourne VIC 3002. Entry is via Gisborne Street or Morrison Place. Always check your appointment letter because some appointments may use a specific level, entrance or partner clinic location.

Official wayfinding video

This official Eye and Ear video is useful for patients, carers and visitors planning how to get to the hospital.

Drop-off and parking

Drop-off is recommended at hospital entrances on Gisborne Street or Morrison Place for patients with low mobility.
The hospital does not run or cover patient parking expenses.
Several private car parks are within short walking distance.
The closest private car park listed by the hospital is Wilson Parking at 410 Albert Street.
Check Wilson/private car park fees directly before parking.
Street parking signs must be read carefully; clearways are strictly enforced.
Victoria Parade and Albert Street are subject to Clearway Tow Away Zones.

Public transport

Train: Parliament Station. Exit via Lonsdale/Nicholson Street and walk up Albert Street.
Tram: routes 11, 12, 30 and 109. Alight at stop 11 or stop 12 depending on direction and route.
Bus: routes 302, 304, 305, 309, 318, 350, 905, 906, 907 and 908.
PTV: use PTV or call 1800 800 007 before travelling.
Travellers Aid: can support people with mobility or travel assistance needs.
VPTAS: Victorian patients living more than 100 km from the hospital may be eligible for travel assistance.

Emergency Department: when to come and what to do first

Call 000 for any life-threatening emergency. The Eye and Ear Emergency Department is specialist emergency care for urgent eye, ear, nose and throat problems.

Situation	Best action	Why
Severe injury, life-threatening symptoms, collapse, or unsafe medical emergency	Call 000 and ask for an ambulance	The ambulance decides the safest emergency destination.
Urgent eye injury, sudden major sight issue, or serious new eye symptoms	Call 000 if severe; otherwise contact/attend the Eye and Ear Emergency Department	The hospital says urgent eye injury or major sight issues may need Eye and Ear Emergency.
Major issue with hearing, ear, nose or throat needing urgent care	Call 000 if severe; otherwise contact the Eye and Ear Emergency Department	The hospital provides 24-hour specialist eye and ENT emergency service.
Health professional needs immediate advice	Call switchboard on 03 9929 8666 and ask for the Eye or ENT admitting officer	This is the official immediate advice pathway for emergencies/referrals.
Routine appointment or referral follow-up	Do not use Emergency; contact Patient Services and Access	Routine specialist clinics require referral and waiting-list/booking process.

Practical triage note: If symptoms are getting worse while waiting for an appointment, contact your referring optometrist/GP/doctor, call the hospital for advice, or use Emergency if the problem is urgent.

Specialist clinic appointments: referral, waiting list and appointment changes

Specialist clinic appointments at the Eye and Ear require a referral from a treating practitioner. The hospital warns demand is high, so waiting time can be long. If accepted, the hospital sends a letter advising that you have been added to the waiting list and asking you to call to make an appointment.

For patients

Eye condition: see your local optometrist for assessment and referral.
Ear, nose or throat condition: see your doctor/GP for assessment and referral.
The referrer sends clinical information showing the condition and urgency.
The hospital reviews and triages the referral.
If accepted, the hospital sends a letter saying you are on the waiting list.
After the hospital contacts you to make an appointment, call 03 9929 8500 Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm or email Patient.Services@eyeandear.org.au.
To cancel or reschedule, contact Patient Services and Access as early as possible.

For referrers

For immediate telephone advice/emergencies, phone switchboard on 03 9929 8666 and ask for the Eye or ENT admitting officer.
General outpatient referrals can be faxed to Patient Services and Access on 03 9929 8404.
Referrals can be mailed to Patient Services and Access, Locked Bag 8, East Melbourne VIC 8002.
Urgent referrals can be marked URGENT and are triaged within 48 hours.
For urgent specialist eye clinic referrals, the official ophthalmology PDF says fax to the Patient Services and Access team on 03 9929 8408 so they are processed without delay.
If the patient is Medicare ineligible, mention this so options can be discussed before the appointment.
If an interpreter is required, include the language required on the referral.

What to bring to a specialist appointment

Bring	Why it matters
Appointment letter	Confirms date, time, clinic, building/level and any special instructions.
Relevant x-rays, scans, blood tests or other test results	Helps the clinical team avoid missing important background information.
List of current medicines	Eye/ENT treatment and surgery planning often depends on medicines and allergies.
Medicare card	Needed for public patient and billing eligibility processes.
Pension card, concession card, medicine concession or Safety Net card	May affect medicine or billing arrangements.
GP address and phone number	Useful for follow-up letters, referral details and shared care.
Medication or dietary supplements needed during visit	Hospital visits can take longer than expected.
Toys/books for children	Useful for children attending clinics and waiting periods.

Services and clinic areas at the Eye and Ear Hospital

The Eye and Ear provides specialist eye, ear, nose and throat care across emergency, outpatient, surgery, inpatient and community-style pathways. Its latest official reporting describes the hospital as Victoria’s largest public provider of ophthalmology and ENT services, delivering more than half of Victoria’s public eye surgery and all public cochlear implants with partners.

Service area	What the hospital provides	What to confirm
Specialist Emergency	24-hour emergency eye and ENT health service.	Call 000 for life-threatening emergency; ask if Eye/ENT Emergency is the right pathway.
Ophthalmology / eye care	Public specialist eye clinics, surgery and ongoing monitoring/treatment for vision-related conditions.	Optometrist referral, urgency category, tests and clinic location.
ENT / ear, nose and throat	Specialist ENT clinics, emergency assessment and surgery pathways.	GP/doctor referral, ENT clinic location and whether NextSense/partner location applies.
Audiology / hearing	Hearing and audiology-related care through specialist pathways.	Referral, appointment location and hearing-support needs.
Cochlear implant services	The hospital reports providing Victoria’s public cochlear implants with partners.	Eligibility, referral route, audiology assessment and waitlist status.
Specialist Clinics	More than 100 specialist clinics dedicated to diagnosing, monitoring and treating vision and hearing loss.	Exact clinic, level, referral acceptance and waiting-list status.
Surgery	Elective surgery, pre-admission assessment, same-day discharge for many patients and inpatient observation for some.	Surgical Services instructions, pre-admission tests, arrival location and what to bring.
Pharmacy and health supplies	Hospital prescription and medication support after hospital care.	Prescription, opening hours, medicine cost and alternatives if pharmacy closure applies.
Patient fact sheets and videos	Fact sheets and videos created or reviewed by health professionals and consumer reviewed.	Use these for education, but ask your doctor/clinician for personal medical advice.

Surgery and pre-admission: exact steps before the day

Pre-admission appointment

Pre-admission appointments are for people who need to see a specialist or have tests before surgery.
Not everyone has a pre-admission appointment; the hospital may call to ask medical history and confirm surgery details.
At pre-admission, staff answer questions, provide surgery information and perform required tests.
Tests may include ECG, blood test or chest x-ray.
Pre-admission can take two to three hours.
You do not need to fast for pre-admission because surgery is not on that day.
Take usual medicines unless the hospital gives different instructions.

Bring to pre-admission

Medicines in original containers.
Medicare card.
Pension, social security, Veterans’ Affairs or private health insurance cards if relevant.
Concession card and Safety Net card if you have one.
List of current medicines, doses and reason for taking them.
GP address and phone number.
Updated information about current problems, past illnesses, allergies and health matters.
Loose, comfortable clothing that can be removed easily.
Do not bring cash or valuable personal items.

On the day of surgery

Where to go	Go directly to the admissions area specified in your appointment letter.
What to bring	Medicines in original containers, Medicare card, pension/concession/Safety Net cards if relevant, and only personal items you need.
Children	All patients under 16 require a parent or guardian at admission. Children under 12 staying overnight require a parent or guardian to stay with them.
Registration	You will wait until a nurse calls your name. Patients are called based on the order of surgical lists, not arrival order.
Discharge	Most elective surgery patients are discharged home soon after surgery; some are observed on the ward.
Change surgery/pre-admission appointment	Call Surgical Services on 03 9929 8553, Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm.
If you miss pre-admission	The hospital says your surgery will be cancelled and you will be put back on the waiting list.

Fees, Medicare, private patients and international patient costs

The Eye and Ear says everyone is welcome. You may be able to choose public or private patient status, but you cannot change between public and private patient status after choosing, so decide carefully before treatment.

Patient situation	Official billing guidance converted into action
Public patient with Medicare	Only people with a Medicare card can be public patients. If you have a Medicare card, Emergency Department assessment has no charge, although medications, treatments, tests or follow-up appointments may still have costs.
Private patient	Private patients may have more choice in doctors and may have the option of a single room, but costs can apply. Private patients are responsible for hospital accommodation fees, prosthesis fees, pharmacy fees and related services.
Medicare-ineligible patient	Fees may apply for all stages of treatment. Staff can discuss potential costs before appointment/treatment where possible.
Online payment	Pay via secure BPOINT using Visa or MasterCard. You need the BPOINT biller code and reference number shown at the bottom of the hospital account.
Phone payment	Call 03 9929 8284 or 03 9929 8210 to make payment by Visa or Mastercard.
In-person payment	The hospital lists credit card, EFTPOS and money order as payment methods when arriving before treatment.
Unforeseen extra treatment or prosthesis cost	If additional services or a different/more costly prosthetic device is needed, extra costs may be invoiced later. If pre-admission payment is higher than actual cost, a refund is sent.

Published international / Medicare-ineligible fees

Service	Published fee
Emergency Department appointment	$550
Specialist clinic appointment	$350
Allied Health appointment, for example Orthoptists	$350
Interpreter services, two hours	$160
Pathology	Varies. Medicare Benefits Schedule fee payable to an external service provider.
Inpatient services	Varies. The hospital uses Diagnostic Related Group method to calculate charges for Medicare-ineligible patients.

Clear estimate rule: If you are private, international, Medicare-ineligible, using insurance, or expecting surgery/prosthesis/pharmacy costs, ask the hospital for a written estimate before treatment. Do not rely on old forum posts or third-party fee guesses.

Visiting hours, inpatient ward and hospital maps

Inpatient ward visiting hours	10:00am-7:00pm.
Current visitor limit noted by hospital	Two visitors a day for one hour each visit on the contact page; surgical page also notes two visitors at a time due to space constraints. Confirm before visiting because visitor rules can change.
Main entries	Gisborne Street and Morrison Place.
Ground floor	Hospital maps show ground floor patient areas and both Gisborne Street and Morrison Place entrances.
Level 1	Specialist Clinics.
Level 2	Peri Operative Suite.
Level 4	Inpatient Ward.
Best visitor action	Call the hospital before visiting if the patient is in surgery recovery, inpatient ward, paediatric care or has special restrictions.

Interpreter, disability, language and practical support

Interpreter and language help

Call 03 9929 8234 to book an interpreter for an appointment.
If a patient needs an interpreter, referrers should list the language required on the referral.
The hospital provides general information in multiple languages, including Auslan, English, Greek, Italian, Mandarin, Cantonese and Vietnamese.
Language information includes appointment process, how to get to the hospital, common conditions, feedback and healthcare rights.

Disability Liaison Officer

Email: DisabilityLiaison@eyeandear.org.au
Phone: 03 9929 8234, select option 3.
The DLO helps identify and reduce barriers to accessing care.
The DLO can liaise with a patient’s community-based care team for safer, more accessible care.
The DLO cannot make specialist clinic referrals, change appointment times or fast-track surgery.
If already onsite and urgent DLO support is needed, speak with a nurse or medical officer.

Mobility tip: If a patient has low mobility, use Gisborne Street or Morrison Place drop-off before parking. If travelling by public transport, consider Travellers Aid before the appointment day.

Feedback, complaints and concerns during care

Situation	Best action
You want to give general feedback	Use the official feedback form, feedback cards located throughout the hospital, email feedback@eyeandear.org.au, or call the Consumer Liaison Officer on 03 9929 8225.
Concern about current patient care	Raise the concern directly with the doctor or nurse in charge first. This is the quickest way to address active treatment concerns.
Not happy with the response or want to speak to someone else	Contact the Consumer Liaison Officer on 03 9929 8225.
Who can provide feedback?	Anyone can provide feedback.
Respectful communication	The hospital states abusive, aggressive, threatening behaviour or inappropriate language is not tolerated and may lead to action such as ending the conversation or reporting the incident.

Official Eye and Ear Hospital action links

Task	Official page	Use it for
Main hospital site	The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital	Official hospital homepage and current navigation.
Contact details	Contact	General, Emergency, Patient Services, Surgical Services, visitor and enquiry contacts.
Find the hospital	Find us	Address, entry, parking, drop-off, train, tram, bus, Travellers Aid and VPTAS notes.
Hospital maps	Hospital maps	Ground floor, Specialist Clinics, Peri Operative Suite and inpatient ward map reference.
Emergency	Emergency	Emergency Department guidance and urgent eye/ENT care information.
Specialist appointment guide	Coming for a Specialist Appointment?	How referrals work, how to book after acceptance, how to change appointments and what to bring.
Appointments	Specialist Clinics Appointments	Waiting-list and appointment-change details.
Referrals for health professionals	Referrals	Referral fax/mail pathway, urgent referral advice and interpreter/Medicare-ineligible notes.
Ophthalmology referral PDF	Primary Care Referral Guidelines – Ophthalmology	Urgent eye referral thresholds and emergency/referral fax guidance.
Surgery	Coming for surgery?	Pre-admission, surgery-day instructions, what to bring and surgical contact.
Fees and payments	Fees, Billing and Making a Payment	Public/private patient rules, Medicare, international fees and payment methods.
Disability support	Disability services	DLO contact and support scope.
Language information	General Information in Your Language	Translated audio/video information and eye-drop language resources.
Patient fact sheets	Patient Fact Sheets	Reviewed patient education resources and videos.
Eye drops guide	How to Apply Eye Drops	Step-by-step patient guide and official video resources.
Feedback	Feedback	Complaint, compliment, feedback form and Consumer Liaison Officer contact.

Eye and Ear Hospital FAQs

What is the address of the Eye and Ear Hospital Melbourne?

The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital is located at 32 Gisborne Street, East Melbourne VIC 3002.

What is the main phone number for the Eye and Ear Hospital?

The main general phone number is 03 9929 8666.

Does the Eye and Ear Hospital have a 24-hour Emergency Department?

Yes. The Eye and Ear Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For life-threatening emergencies, call 000.

How do I change an Eye and Ear specialist clinic appointment?

Contact Patient Services and Access on 03 9929 8500 or email Patient.Services@eyeandear.org.au.

How do I make a specialist clinic appointment at the Eye and Ear?

All specialist clinic appointments require a referral from a treating practitioner. Eye referrals usually start with an optometrist, while ear, nose and throat referrals usually start with a GP or doctor.

What should I bring to an Eye and Ear appointment?

Bring your appointment letter, relevant scans or test results, current medication list, Medicare card, pension or concession cards if relevant, GP details and any medication or supplements needed during the visit.

Where can I park near the Eye and Ear Hospital?

The hospital lists nearby private car parks, with Wilson Parking at 410 Albert Street as the closest. Parking is not coordinated by the hospital, so check current fees and pre-booking options directly with the car park operator.

What public transport goes to the Eye and Ear Hospital?

The hospital is near Parliament Station. Tram routes 11, 12, 30 and 109 and bus routes 302, 304, 305, 309, 318, 350, 905, 906, 907 and 908 are listed by the hospital for access.

What are the inpatient visiting hours at the Eye and Ear Hospital?

The inpatient ward visiting hours are listed as 10:00am to 7:00pm. Visitor restrictions can change, so confirm before visiting.

Who do I contact about surgery or pre-admission at the Eye and Ear?

Contact Surgical Services on 03 9929 8553 or email Surgical.Services@eyeandear.org.au for surgical booking and pre-admission appointment enquiries.

Source and update note

This guide is based on official Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital pages for contact details, Emergency, appointments, referrals, surgery, fees, maps, support services, feedback and official patient information resources. Phone numbers, visitor rules, appointment pathways, fees, private parking prices, referral rules and service availability can change, so confirm urgent, personal or appointment-specific details directly with the Eye and Ear before travelling.

This page is an informational hospital guide only. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment recommendations. For urgent or life-threatening symptoms, call 000.