22 22 – Our new internal emergency number is now live
The internal number for emergencies has changed from 999 to 22 22 across all Monash Health sites.
This change has been made in partnership with the Department of Health to standardise internal emergency numbers across Victoria. Having one internal emergency number improves healthcare worker awareness, particularly for those who work across multiple health services and hospitals and reduces the risk of a delayed emergency response.
Please note that a patient’s personal mobile phone cannot be used to dial the internal emergency number. Community services that use 000 to activate emergency responses will continue to do so.
To minimise risk, the old internal emergency number (999) will remain active and run parallel with 22 22 to ensure no emergency calls are missed.
We’ve updated our resources
We’ve replaced listings and references to the old emergency number with the new 22 22 number, including on phone handsets, internal phone directories, ID badges, procedures and guidelines.
Our site managers have rolled out the new resources but we need everyone’s help to make the transition a success. This can include:
- Raising awareness of the new emergency number by discussing it at your huddles or handovers.
- Checking your area’s existing resources (including local ward-only procedures) to remove anything that references the 999 number.
View our updated emergency code booklet
Monash Health Emergency Code Booklet
PDF document
More information
If you have any questions about the new internal emergency number, please read our FAQs or review the PROMPT documents available from our Emergency Management intranet site. For any other questions, contact the Standardised Emergency Number (SEN) team – SENproject@monashhealth.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why standardise the in-hospital emergency number?
Across Australia, 51 different phone numbers are used to initiate an in-hospital emergency call, where the caller requires a rapid response from the responding team. In these circumstances, the time taken for the team to be alerted to the emergency can mean the difference between life and death.
It is widely acknowledged that having one in-hospital emergency number improves staff awareness and reduces the likelihood of a time delay. Standardising the in-hospital emergency number to 22 22 enhances recall amongst clinicians who work across multiple health services and improves patient safety.
The Australian Resuscitation Council, Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare all support the standardisation of in-hospital emergency numbers; as do Victorian health service Chief Executive Officers with hospital Chief Information Officers providing advice on the feasibility of standardisation.
Why 22 22?
Internationally, 22 22 is recognised in many countries who have implemented standardisation, including the UK, Turkey, Denmark and Slovenia. The number is currently being used in standardisation across the EU, and is being considered by South Africa, Japan and the UAE. Countries that have already implemented the change using 22 22 have reported a dramatic increase in the awareness of the number, proving its effectiveness.
Victoria’s move towards standardisation with 22 22 is in line with this international standardisation, and follows changes already made in NSW, the ACT and across Ramsay Health.
Will this change all codes?
22 22 has replaced the emergency number for all our internal alert codes.
What will happen if someone calls the old 999 emergency number?
The old in-hospital emergency number 999 will run parallel with 22 22 to ensure no emergency calls are missed.
What services are in scope for this change?
All Victorian public and private health services and day hospitals that use an internal emergency number. Those services that use triple zero will continue to do so.
Where is the number listed?
The new 22 22 number has replaced all listings and references to the old emergency number, including on phone handsets, internal phone directories, ID badges and procedures and guidelines.
Where can I get copies of the updated material?
Site managers have rolled out updated materials across all Monash Health Sites. However, if you would like to receive extra copies of posters or emergency code booklets you can contact your site manager.
Can I dial the new emergency number from a mobile phone?
A mobile phone can be used to call the new 22 22 emergency number if a desk phone is not available. The number is (03) 9594 7860.
Note: the number to call from a mobile phone is not to be distributed to patients, visitors or families. If a patient, visitor, or family member has concerns, they can escalate these via the Family Initiated Escalation of Care pathway. Visit the procedure on PROMPT for more information.
Can I call from a Patient Phone?
A patient’s personal mobile phone cannot be used to dial the internal emergency number, however, cabled bedside and desk phones can.