Parkville, Victoria
The Royal Women’s Hospital address, appointments and contact guide
The Royal Women’s Hospital, often called The Women’s, is a specialist public hospital at 20 Flemington Road, Parkville VIC 3052. Use this guide for the correct address, switchboard, appointment pathway, emergency-care notes, parking, public transport, visiting hours and official links.
Quick contact table
| Need | Use this contact or action | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Life-threatening emergency | Call 000 | Do not wait for a callback, email response or appointment line if symptoms are severe. |
| Main hospital switchboard | (03) 8345 2000 | Use for wards, booked-patient enquiries, hospital departments and general connection. |
| Change or cancel an outpatient appointment | (03) 8345 3032 or appointments@thewomens.org.au | Tell the hospital as early as possible. If two appointments are missed without notice, a new referral may be needed. |
| Rebookings and cancellations on the contact page | (03) 8345 3033 | If your letter lists a different clinic number, use the number on the letter first. |
| Women’s Emergency Care | Lower Ground, 20 Flemington Road, Parkville | Open 24 hours, 7 days. Referral is not required, but phone medical advice is not provided. |
| Patient enquiries while admitted | (03) 8345 3030 | Callers can ask to be transferred to a patient where appropriate. |
| Interpreter before outpatient visit | (03) 8345 3054 | Call at least one week before your visit if possible. |
| Feedback or complaint | (03) 8345 2290 or consumer.liaison@thewomens.org.au | Use Consumer Liaison for compliments, concerns, suggestions and complaints. |
| Patient accounts and billing | (03) 8345 3012 | Ask before planned care if you do not have a Medicare card or if you are arranging private or overseas-visitor care. |
How to get an appointment at The Royal Women’s Hospital
Most specialist clinic appointments at The Women’s start with a GP referral. Your GP remains important because they usually provide care while the hospital triages the referral and allocates the first appointment.
- See your GP and discuss whether referral to The Women’s is clinically appropriate.
- If you meet the hospital’s access criteria, your GP writes and faxes the referral to the hospital.
- The hospital sends you and your GP an acknowledgement letter within 5 working days after receiving the referral.
- The referral is assessed for clinical urgency and appointment availability.
- You receive your first appointment details by letter. Read the letter carefully because it may specify face-to-face, phone or telehealth attendance.
Pregnancy appointments
For pregnancy services, your GP may refer you to The Women’s if you meet the hospital’s access criteria. The hospital says your GP usually provides care, advice and initial tests until your first hospital appointment, which is usually between 14 and 18 weeks gestation.
Specialist women’s health clinics
Gynaecology, dysplasia, gynaecological cancer and breast cancer pathways are triaged by clinical need. Some services can be accessed without a GP referral, including the Women’s Welcome Centre, contraception and unplanned pregnancy options, and the clinic for women affected by female genital cutting.
What to bring to an outpatient appointment
| Bring | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Appointment letter or SMS | Shows the clinic, time, format and any special instructions. |
| Medicare card and concession cards | Needed for eligibility, identification and billing checks. |
| Current medicine list | Include prescriptions, over-the-counter medicine, vitamins and natural therapies. |
| Recent test results, scans or imaging | Helps clinicians avoid missing important information. |
| Your GP’s name, address and phone number | The hospital may share relevant care information with your GP. |
| Questions you want answered | Useful when appointments are short or you feel anxious. |
| A support person if needed | You may bring someone for support. If children must attend, another adult should supervise them. |
Women’s Emergency Care: when to use it
The Women’s Emergency Care service is for emergency maternity and gynaecology problems, and emergency care for newborns who were born at The Women’s and are less than two weeks old. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on the Lower Ground level at 20 Flemington Road.
Referral is not required. The hospital states that no medical advice is given over the phone. For a life-threatening situation, call 000. If a baby was not born at The Women’s or is older than two weeks, the hospital directs families to the Royal Children’s Hospital for emergency care, unless the situation is life-threatening and 000 is needed.
| Emergency care item | Action |
|---|---|
| Emergency maternity or gynaecology issue | Attend Women’s Emergency Care or call 000 if life-threatening. |
| Newborn born at The Women’s and under two weeks old | Women’s Emergency Care can provide emergency care. |
| What to bring if safe to do so | Medicare card, medicine list, Healthcare card if held, blood group card and any previous imaging results. |
Getting there: parking, public transport and access
The hospital is on the corner of Grattan Street and Flemington Road in Parkville. Wheelchair access is available at the main entrance on the corner of Grattan Street and Flemington Road at Ground Level, and at the Women’s Emergency Care entrance on Flemington Road at Lower Ground.
Parking and drop-off
Paid underground parking is entered from Flemington Road from 6am to 9pm, seven days a week. The car park can reach capacity, so allow extra time. Accessible parking bays are on level B1 with lifts to main reception, outpatient services and private consulting suites.
There is a public pick-up and drop-off zone on Grattan Street, plus short-term 30 minute pick-up and drop-off spaces at Lower Ground off Flemington Road.
Train, tram and bus
Parkville Station is the closest train station and is about a 2 minute walk from the main entrance. Trams 58 and 59 stop at Grattan Street and Flemington Road; tram 19 stops at Royal Parade and Grattan Street. Bus routes listed by the hospital include 401, 402, 403, 505 and 546.
Travellers Aid at Parkville can help people with mobility needs with wayfinding, wheelchair assistance and personal guidance between Parkville Station and The Women’s.
Telehealth, phone appointments and Health Hub
The Women’s offers some clinic appointments by video call or phone. Your appointment letter tells you how to attend. For telehealth, you may receive a text message link near the appointment time, or you may be told to join a specific virtual waiting room about 5 minutes before the appointment.
Use a quiet, private and well-lit place. Do not attend a phone or video appointment while driving. Keep your device charged, prepare your questions, and answer calls from private or unknown numbers because the clinician may need to reconnect by phone.
Health Hub is the hospital’s secure online platform for appointment details and health information. It is useful for planned care, but it is not an emergency contact route.
Visiting hours and staying at The Women’s
| Area or situation | Official visiting detail |
|---|---|
| General visiting | 2pm to 8pm. |
| Partners | 8am to 8.30pm. |
| NICU | Anytime, unrestricted. Maximum of 3 people at the cot side at one time, including at least one adult. |
| If visitors are unwell | Do not visit until fully recovered. |
| Alternative visiting hours | May be negotiated with the nurse-in-charge in special circumstances. |
| Discharge times | Morning discharge is 9.30am. Maternity afternoon discharge is from 3.30pm. |
Fees, Medicare and private patients
If you have a valid Medicare card, the hospital says outpatient appointments are covered by Medicare with no out-of-pocket cost. If you do not have a Medicare card or are not eligible for Medicare benefits, you need to organise payment with Patient Accounts before care where possible.
The hospital publishes a fee guide for Medicare-ineligible patients, private patients and overseas visitors. Fees can change, so check the official patient fees page before planned treatment. Private and overseas visitor booking enquiries can use the Private Patient Liaison Officer on (03) 8345 2929 or 0412 101 931.
Official links for common tasks
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not use the general enquiry form for urgent symptoms. Use 000 or emergency care.
- Do not assume the hospital can give medical advice by phone. Its official pages say it cannot provide individual healthcare advice by phone or email.
- Do not attend the wrong hospital. This guide is for Parkville, Victoria.
- Do not wait until the appointment day to request an interpreter. Call at least one week ahead where possible.
- Do not rely on parking being immediately available. The underground car park can fill, so allow extra time.
- Do not ignore an appointment you cannot attend. Call or email early so the time can be offered to another patient.
Related Australian hospital guides
For other maternity, newborn, public hospital and emergency-care guides, you may also find these pages useful: King Edward Memorial Hospital, Joondalup Hospital, Lismore Base Hospital and Mackay Base Hospital.
FAQs about The Royal Women’s Hospital
What is The Royal Women’s Hospital address?
The address is 20 Flemington Road, Parkville VIC 3052. The hospital is on the corner of Grattan Street and Flemington Road.
What is The Royal Women’s Hospital phone number?
The main switchboard is (03) 8345 2000.
How do I change or cancel an appointment?
Call (03) 8345 3032 or email appointments@thewomens.org.au. The hospital contact page also lists (03) 8345 3033 for rebookings and cancellations, so use the number printed on your appointment letter if one is provided.
Do I need a GP referral?
Most specialist services and clinics require a GP referral. A small number of services can be accessed without a GP referral, including the Women’s Welcome Centre, contraception and unplanned pregnancy options, and the clinic for women affected by female genital cutting.
When is the first pregnancy appointment usually?
The hospital says the first pregnancy appointment is usually between 14 and 18 weeks gestation. Your GP usually provides care, advice and initial tests until then.
Does The Royal Women’s Hospital have emergency care?
Yes. Women’s Emergency Care is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for emergency maternity and gynaecology problems, and emergency care for newborns born at The Women’s who are less than two weeks old. Call 000 for life-threatening symptoms.
What are the visiting hours?
General visiting hours are 2pm to 8pm. Partners may visit from 8am to 8.30pm. NICU visiting is listed as anytime, with limits at the cot side.
Is there parking at The Royal Women’s Hospital?
Yes. Paid underground parking is entered from Flemington Road between 6am and 9pm, seven days a week. Accessible parking is available on level B1, and short-term pick-up and drop-off spaces are available at Lower Ground.
What public transport goes to The Royal Women’s Hospital?
Parkville Station is the closest train station. Tram routes 19, 58 and 59 stop nearby, and the hospital lists bus routes 401, 402, 403, 505 and 546 as nearby options.
Will I pay for an outpatient appointment?
If you have a valid Medicare card, outpatient appointments are covered by Medicare. If you do not have a Medicare card, contact Patient Accounts before your visit to organise payment and check the official fee guide.
Source note
This guide was checked against The Royal Women’s Hospital official contact, appointments, outpatient appointment, emergency care, transport, telehealth, visiting and patient-fee pages. Always use the hospital’s official pages or your appointment letter for clinic-specific instructions.