Two years and more than 9,000 patients later, Gregory Hills Urgent Care Service (UCS) is still making a positive impact on the health outcomes of our community, ensuring more convenient and faster access to care for urgent, non life-threatening conditions.
State Health Minister Ryan Park and Camden MP Sally Quinnell first visited the site together in May 2024.
They returned today (Wednesday, 4 March) to tour the facility and hear first-hand from the Urgent Care team about the types of presentations they see.
SWSPHN Primary Care Workforce Manager Bianca Walsh, South Western Sydney Local Health District Chief Executive Sonia Marshall, and My Family Health Gregory Hills’ Practice Manager Waheed Akhtar and GP, Dr Sammy Isaac, joined the tour and the meet and greet with staff.
SWSPHN commissions Gregory Hills UCS with NSW Ministry of Health funding, to reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments (ED).
UCSs provide patients with timely treatment for urgent illnesses or injuries, including: minor cuts, sprains or suspected fractures, sports injuries, minor infections, insect or animal bites, cough, cold or flu, mild asthma attacks or earaches.
Since opening in February 2024, a total of 9,204 total unique patients and an average of about 500 patients a month, have received care at Gregory Hills UCS.
In the past two years:
- 3,930 patients have reported they would have otherwise gone to their local ED
- 1,433 (15.6 per cent) attended for acute injuries
- 4,276 (46.5 per cent) attended for acute illness
The highest volume of presentations are in the after-hours period, between 4pm and 8pm when a patient’s usual GP is closed.
Feedback from patients on Gregory Hills Urgent Care Service
A mother whose child had an asthma flare-up thanked staff for their “quick help”, noting she had “literally run into the clinic”.
A wife expressed appreciation after her husband, who arrived early in the morning in severe pain, was promptly assessed, treated and observed.
A grandmother whose grandchild fell off a bike said, “You guys are amazing … otherwise we would have been sitting in ED for hours”.
The daughter of an elderly patient described the service as “so convenient”.
A parent said: “It was so easy to see UCS nurses and doctors – so helpful,” after their child was injured at school.
A parent referred late in the evening by Healthdirect shared: “I never knew about this service … I am so grateful to get urgent help”.
Another parent praised the rapid clinical response for their son’s head injury, describing it as highly reassuring compared to ED wait times.
Gregory Hills UCS is open seven days a week (including public holidays) from 8am to 8pm.
Treatment is free for all Medicare eligible card holders.
Residents can access the service by calling Healthdirect anytime on 1800 022 222.
For more information about Urgent Care in South Western Sydney, visit the SWSPHN website.
Main picture above:
L-R Dr Atifa Khan, Sonia Marshall, Dr Sami Isaac, Ryan Park, Sally Quinnell, Waheed Akhtar and Bianca Walsh.