Mount Isa Hospital is the main referral centre within the North West Hospital and Health Service. Patients from other facilities across the north west region who require specialist treatment and care are referred to either the Mount Isa Hospital or to other major hospitals within Queensland, including Townsville, Cairns and Brisbane. Specialist outreachpatient services are managed from the hospital, which is the major hub for Telehealth services across the entire north-west service area, with five primary health care clinics and six hospital sites having access to 24/7 medical and nursing and midwifery support for the advice and management of lower risk emergency department presentations and other outpatient care.

The Emergency Department sees approximately 28,000 to 32,000 presentations per annum. An extremely varied mix of presentations gives clinical staff many opportunities to gain hands-on experience in procedural work and broad clinical experience.