Practical information
Health & safety
Visitors from Finland, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and the UK have reciprocal health rights, entitling them to ‘medically necessary’ treatments, including free public-hospital access and subsidised medicines. In some cases you’ll need to pay upfront, then be reimbursed once you’ve registered with Medicare (13 20 11). Travel insurance is advisable to cover other expenses (such as ambulance and repatriation).
Emergency rooms
Hospitals with 24-hour accident and emergency departments (sometimes known as casualty wards) include:
Royal North Shore Hospital (9926 7111; www.rnsh.com.au; Pacific Hwy, St Leonards)
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (9515 6111; Missenden Rd, Camperdown)
St Vincent’s Public Hospital (8382 7111; wwwsvh.stvincents.com.au; cnr Victoria & Burton Sts, Darlinghurst)
Sydney Children’s Hospital (9382 1111; www.sch.edu.au; High St, Randwick)
Sydney Hospital & Sydney Eye Hospital (9382 7111; www.sesahs.nsw.gov.au/sydhosp; 8 Macquarie St)
Clinics
Kings Cross Travellers Clinic (9358 3066; www.travellersclinic.com.au; 13 Springfield Ave, Kings Cross; 9am-1pm & 2-6pm Mon-Fri, 10am-noon Sat; Kings Cross Station) General practitioners offering vaccinations, morning-after pills and dive medicals.
Travellers Medical & Vaccination Centre (9221 7133; www.traveldoctor.com.au; 7th fl, 428 George St, City; 9am-5.30pm Mon, Wed & Fri, 9am-8pm Tue & Thu, 9am-1pm Sat; Town Hall Station) Travel-related shots and medical advice.
If you need a dentist pronto, call 9369 7050 (24 hours) or visit www.dentist.com.au.
Pharmacies
Every shopping strip and mall has a pharmacy. The following have conveniently long hours:
Blakes Pharmacy (9358 6712; www.blakespharmacy.com.au; 20 Darlinghurst Rd, Kings Cross; 9am-11pm)
Park Pharmacy (9552 3372; 321 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe; 8am-8pm Mon-Sat, 9am-8pm Sun)
Wu’s Pharmacy (9211 1805; 629 George St, Haymarket; 9am-9pm Mon-Sat, to 7pm Sun)
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