Urgent Care Services
What is urgent care?
Urgent care is medical attention that is required within 2-12 hours for an illness or injury that is not life-threatening. Conditions and ailments may include sprains, bone fractures and dislocations, insect bites, rashes, gastrointestinal illness, urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted infections, minor cuts and abrasions, minor ear and eye problems, and minor burns.
The aim of urgent care services is to reduce the number of people presenting to emergency departments by addressing service gaps.
Urgent care is not a replacement for health and medical services that are managed in a regular general practice by a doctor such as general screening and health checks, vaccinations and prescriptions, mental health advice, family planning, referrals for tests, scans or specialist care, chronic disease management or preventive health procedures such as cervical screening tests.
Urgent care in the community is available in a range of different forms including face to face, via telehealth, and virtual consultations. Access to services is via a range of pathways with a 24/7 free triage service staffed by Registered Nurses available to guide you to the appropriate care according to your medical situation and location.
Latest developments in urgent care
- Delivering a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic for Newcastle/Lake Macquarie - read the Minister for Health's announcement
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics
Medicare UCCs provide urgent care in a GP setting, helping to reduce pressure on hospitals and emergency departments, allowing them to focus on higher urgency and life-threatening conditions.
An Australian Government initiative, the Clinics are free to Medicare card holders and are open extended hours seven days per week. They offer walk-in appointments for eligible medical conditions and appointments can also be made directly with the clinic or via its online booking service. Learn more.
NSW Urgent Care Services
NSW Urgent Care Services provides short-term, one-off care for urgent health care needs that are not life-threatening. Urgent Care Services are provided either in-person or virtually (on the phone or by video call).
People should use an Urgent Care Service if they need fast medical attention for a health issue that is not life-threatening, or if they are unable to get an appointment at a local General Practitioner (GP) for a health issue which should not be left untreated. Learn more.
virtualKIDS Urgent Care Service
The virtualKIDS Urgent Care Service is Australia’s first paediatric-specific virtual healthcare service. virtualKIDS is accessible via referral from healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for free, 24 hours, seven days per week.
It provides video consultations for children (and their families/carers):
- Aged up to 16 years
- With non-life-threatening health concerns
- Located in NSW and in some border areas
Private Urgent Care Services
Private Urgent Care Services offer prompt and rapid access to an Emergency Specialist (FACEM) or doctor and highly skilled emergency care team, as well as diagnostics & treatment with streamlined patient-centred care involving coordination of care with other specialists if required.
Examples of private urgent care services within the HNECC PHN region include Heal Urgent Care and Spring Emergency Centre
If admission to hospital is required, you would have the option to be admitted to a Public or Private hospital under various admitting specialists.