Medical Services

The Department of General Internal Medicine provides comprehensive investigations and management options for patients with complex medical problems. Our doctors have expertise in providing acute general medicine services, including care goals for patients with multi-system disease, and expertise in chronic disease management. 

Evidence-based medicine is fundamental to general medicine and we strive to incorporate research into everyday practice by applying and undertaking research and audit activities.

Services

Dedicated Acute Admissions Unit (AAU) which receives general medical and undifferentiated patients for assessment, care and treatment for up to 72 hours prior to transfer to medical in-patient wards or home
Three internal medicine teams who provide care to patients whose expected length of stay is more than 48 to 72 hours. Sub-specialty back up is available 24 hours a day.
Medical and cardiac clinics
Our medical clinics are usually the first step in a patient’s hospital journey. Patients are referred from their general practitioner, private specialist or other hospital specialist. Clinics are available under the following specialties:

Cardiology
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Cardiac Preadmission Clinics
Diabetes and Endocrinology
Gastroenterology
Internal Medicine
Hepatitis and Liver
Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
Gerontology
Neurology
Podiatry
Rehabilitation
Renal
Rheumatology
Respiratory
Once a referral letter is received from a clinician, the hospital specialists will categorise patients into an urgency category, with one being the most urgent and three being the least urgent. This ensures that those most in need of care will receive their treatment first. You can find out more about categories and expected wait times here

Medical Wards
Medical patients who require admission to Townsville University Hospital will be admitted to one of our medical wards. Rural patients will be admitted to their facility’s general ward.

Medical ward 1

Renal
Respiratory
Gastroenterology
Medical ward 2

Endocrinology
Rheumatology
General Medicine
Medical ward 3

Stroke
General medicine
Medical neurology
Medical ward 5

Acute medical geriatric patients
Delirium
Dementia
For information on sub-acute care unit (SACU) visit the SACU page.

Temporary Capacity Ward
Temporary Capacity Ward (TCW) is an 11-bed ward comprising of six single negative pressure rooms with ensuite bathrooms. This ward is open to meet additional capacity demands of Townsville Hospital and Health Service and due to the negative pressure rooms is the location for any pandemic response as part of the Townsville University Hospital Disaster Response Plan. TCW is currently utilised to temporarily provide nursing care for patients who are either COVID-19 positive or who have a high risk of positivity and are awaiting swab results and the provision of direct admission from community or other facilities within THHS of COVID-19 positive patients.