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 Mount Isa Special Care Nursery care for sick and preterm babies 32-weeks gestation and later. If a baby is younger than 32 weeks, or too sick to be cared for in Mount Isa, they will be transferred to Townsville University Hospital.