Make the right choice for your health care this holiday season
17 December 2024
Unfortunately, illness and injuries happen, but the good news is there are plenty of health care options which don’t involve a trip to a hospital emergency department.
COORDINARE - South Eastern NSW PHN now funds a variety of urgent care primary healthcare services for non-life threatening illnesses and injuries.
According to COORDINARE’s CEO Prudence Buist, most people would prefer to see a GP rather than go to an emergency department, but many don’t know what other options are available when their usual doctor is closed.
Ms Buist said: “Data suggests about 12 percent of emergency room presentations in NSW could have been treated by a GP. This includes respiratory and urinary tract infections and injuries like fractures, dislocations, non-venomous bites, wounds, minor burns, and cuts requiring stitches.
“This holiday season, if you have a non life-threatening illness or injury you can access a number of free urgent care options in South Eastern NSW. Urgent care providers are open between 8am and 8pm, including on weekends and public holidays. The emergency department is not your only option.
“By phoning healthdirect people can talk to a health professional and identify the closest local health care option 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” she said.
Ms Buist added: “Urgent care centres do not replace the need for a regular GP and cannot provide routine vaccinations, preventative health screenings, mental health care plans, or chronic disease management.”
- Health issues aren’t always between 9am and 5pm. For unexpected medical issues after hours, make the right call to get the right health care, at night, on weekends and public holidays.
- Healthdirect.gov.au can advise if your GP, a nearby general practice, urgent care provider or pharmacy are open after hours.
- If your local general practice, urgent care provider or pharmacy is closed, you can call healthdirect for medical advice and support on 1800 022 222.
- ALWAYS call 000 in a medical emergency or visit your nearest emergency department for a serious illness or injury.
Local after-hours health care options in South Eastern NSW include:
- your doctor, or nearest general practice (details via healthdirect.gov.au)
- your nearest urgent care provider:
- Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) in Corrimal, Dapto, Batemans Bay or Queanbeyan (walk in between 8am and 8pm)
- Goulburn Urgent Care Service (UCS) (open 8am to 8pm weekdays and 10am to 7pm on weekends) call healthdirect 1800 022 22 for an appointment
- if in the Illawarra, you can call Radio Doctor Illawarra on 02 4228 5522 (after 6pm on weekdays, after 12pm on Saturdays and all day Sunday or on public holidays)
- your local pharmacist
- A call to healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for medical advice and support
- ALWAYS call 000 in a medical emergency or attend the nearest emergency department for a serious illness or injury.