New Royal Adelaide Hospital emergency department opens its doors

The emergency department at the new Royal Adelaide Hospital has opened its doors to its first patients this morning.

The department opened at 7am today, at the same time the emergency department at the old Royal Adelaide closed new admissions.

The changeover marked possibly the most significant part of the shift to the new $2.4 billion facility, and comes amid the transfer of more than 300 patients from the old to the new hospital.

Ambulances started ferrying patients to the new hospital yesterday morning, with about 130 moved during the day.

A similar number will also be moved today and tomorrow to complete the shift, one of the most complex logistical exercises in the state's history.

Any patient who presented at the old Royal Adelaide's emergency reception before 7am was treated, with authorities running two departments for most of the day.

But health authorities have asked people not to seek emergency treatment at the new hospital unless experiencing a genuine emergency.

They advised people to call Triple-Zero and an ambulance, which will take them to the most appropriate location.