16 April 2025

If your practice is not open over the Easter long weekend, please encourage your patients to visit an Urgent Care centre instead of their local emergency department with their urgent, non-life-threatening conditions.

Urgent Care Centres in South Western Sydney will be open from 8am to late, seven days a week over this period, at Campbelltown, Fairfield, Bankstown, Liverpool and Gregory Hills. To seek Urgent Care you can contact the 24 hour health advice service, healthdirect on 1800 022 222. Walk-ins are welcome.

Dr Bishoy Marcus is a GP at the Liverpool Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.

He spoke to SWSPHN about the services Urgent Care provides. 


Urgent Care is not a “substitute for a patient’s regular GP” but rather an alternative for patients needing immediate medical attention when their GP is unavailable.  

Dr Bishoy Marcus, from Liverpool Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, says the sites are equipped to provide care for a diverse range of conditions, including on occasions when the patient’s regular GP lacked the necessary equipment in their own clinics. 

“We always give patients a discharge summary with their GP’s name on it and share any test results with their doctor to facilitate ongoing care,” he said. 

“If we send a patient for a test, we advise them to book with their GP immediately. Follow-up care with a general practitioner is essential to ensure continuity of treatment.” 

Dr Marcus expressed the need for a strong relationship between Urgent Care sites and GPs to ensure seamless patient care, saying effective communication between Urgent Care sites and general practices helped to maintain the quality and consistency of medical treatment. 

“Some GPs are already referring patients to Urgent Care for specific procedures, such as cast removals, when they lack the necessary equipment in their own clinics,” he said. 

Dr Marcus also highlighted the increasing demand for accessible, immediate healthcare options to support both patients and GPs. 

“As the healthcare system continues to evolve, Urgent Care will play an increasing role in supporting GPs and easing the demand for medical services,” he said. 

“Urgent Care sites give people a quick and easy way to get the help they need while still staying connected with their regular GP. 

“By improving communication and ensuring patients understand their options, Urgent Care sites can work well alongside GPs to provide well-rounded care.” 

Visit our website to see Urgent Care sites in South Western Sydney. 

 

Photo caption: Dr Bishoy Marcus from Liverpool Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, speaks about the important role of Urgent Care in supporting GPs and patients.

13 November 2024
Fairfield Urgent Care Clinic opening

 

A fifth urgent care site for South Western Sydney has opened in Fairfield.

The new Medicare Urgent Care Centre (UCC) has opened at Fairfield Chase Medical Centre, 49 to 61 Spencer Street, Fairfield.

Fairfield Medicare UCC joins Medicare UCC sites at Campbelltown, Liverpool and Bankstown, and the Urgent Care Service at Gregory Hills, in providing medical care for non-life threatening conditions.

Urgent care aims to complement the role of GPs by providing short-term, episodic care for acute health conditions which do not require hospital emergency department attention but can’t wait for a patient’s usual GP.

Sites are equipped to manage a wide range of minor illnesses and injuries, including respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses, urinary tract infections, minor fractures, lacerations and burns.

With on-site or nearby access to radiology and pathology, urgent care offers comprehensive care under one roof, providing essential services such as wound management, fracture care, intravenous therapy and more.

The Fairfield UCC is a free (bulk-billed) service delivered by ForHealth, which operates Fairfield Chase Medical Centre. It is open from 8am till late, seven days a week, including public holidays, and appointments are not required.

South Western Sydney PHN (SWSPHN) Chief Executive Officer, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, said the four urgent care sites in South Western Sydney reached an impressive milestone in August this year, having treated more than 10,000 patients.

“More than 40 per cent of those patients indicated they would have sought care at an emergency department if urgent care hadn’t been available to them,” he said.

“These figures highlight the important role of urgent care in freeing up our busy emergency departments to focus on life threatening emergencies, while at the same time providing our community with access to high-quality and timely healthcare.”

Dr McDonald said he was pleased residents of Fairfield and surrounds could now access care for their urgent care needs without having to wait at emergency departments.

“The Fairfield Medicare UCC is another step in our work to improve healthcare access for all residents of South Western Sydney, and we look forward to working with, and supporting ForHealth to ensure the service’s success,” he said.

ForHealth NSW Director Simon Taylor-Cross said he was delighted to see the Medicare UCC open at Fairfield Chase Medical Centre, which had served the Fairfield community for more than 20 years.

He said the clinic would provide further bulk-billed access to those in the community who were unable to access a GP and currently turned to the already busy emergency departments.

“Building on the other nine Medicare UCCs operated by ForHealth across NSW, it is clear to see these services are not only popular but importantly making an impact, especially for those with young families and those needing care that is urgent but not an emergency.

“There is a significant trend of presentations arriving late afternoon through the evening in addition to high uptake across the weekends.

“Fairfield Chase Medical Centre is well positioned to deliver this new service now and into the future.”

The commissioning and establishment of the Fairfield Medicare Urgent Care Clinic involved close collaboration between SWSPHN and the Australian government.

 

Find out more about UCCs

 

03 September 2024

When your practice is closed or appointments are unavailable, your patients can visit Urgent Care sites across our region for one-off care for urgent conditions which are not immediately life-threatening but should not be left untreated. 

Please encourage your patients to access care in these circumstances at Urgent Care sites in Campbelltown, Liverpool, Bankstown and Gregory Hills, rather than attending their local hospital emergency department. A fifth Urgent Care site will open in Fairfield in November. 

Conditions they might attend an Urgent Care site for include: suspected fractures/back slabs; access to radiology and pathology; eye concerns; sutures; IV fluids/dehydration; paediatric presentations; ECGs. 

A more comprehensive list of conditions, locations and how to access Urgent Care is available on our website.  

Visit our website 

Urgent Care sites are intended to complement the role of primary care providers by providing short-term, episodic care.  

Patients are discharged back to their regular GP for follow up, with a discharge letter and My Health Record entry. 

For your regular patients or MyMedicare​​ patients registered with your practice, information about their use of an Urgent Care site and the treatment they received will be securely provided to you or your practice to ensure any required follow-up care can be provided.​ 

All Urgent Care sites across South Western Sydney are open seven days a week, from 8am to late. 

20 August 2024

SWSPHN’s commitment to providing accessible and timely healthcare has reached an impressive milestone with more than 10,000 patients treated at Urgent Care sites across our region.

This achievement highlights the vital role these Urgent Care Clinics (UCC) and Urgent Care Services (UCS) play in supporting our community by offering high-quality, urgent medical care for non-life-threatening conditions.

A family who received care at the Liverpool Urgent Care Clinic.

Expanding access to Urgent Care

Since their launch, the Urgent Care sites in Bankstown, Campbelltown, Liverpool and Gregory Hills have been essential in alleviating pressure on local emergency departments (EDs).

A fifth site in Fairfield is set to open in November 2024, further expanding access to urgent care across the region.

These clinics operate seven days a week, including public holidays from 8am till late, ensuring even greater availability of care.

A vital alternative to emergency departments

A promising 41 per cent of Urgent Care site users surveyed indicated they would have sought care at an ED if Urgent Care had not been available to them.

UCCs are designed to allow walk-in patients and referrals while UCSs have a single front door approach via Healthdirect bookings online or on 1800 022 222, however, cannot turn patients away if they walk in to receive care.

Urgent Care is designed to complement primary care providers, ensuring patients receive timely, episodic care while reducing the strain on hospital Eds. Patients who access Urgent Care are referred to their usual GP for follow-up.

Comprehensive care for urgent needs

Urgent Care sites in South Western Sydney are equipped to manage a wide range of minor illnesses and injuries, including respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses, urinary tract infections, minor fractures, lacerations, and burns.

With on-site access to radiology and pathology, these clinics offer comprehensive care under one roof, providing essential services such as wound management, fracture care, intravenous therapy and more.

Looking ahead

As we celebrate this significant milestone, we look forward to continuing to expand and enhance access to healthcare in South Western Sydney.

The upcoming opening of the Fairfield UCC will mark another step forward in our mission to improve healthcare access for all residents of South Western Sydney.

Find out about Urgent Care
20 August 2024

SWSPHN’s commitment to providing accessible and timely healthcare has reached an impressive milestone with more than 10,000 patients treated at Urgent Care sites across our region.

This achievement highlights the vital role these Urgent Care Clinics (UCC) and Urgent Care Services (UCS) play in supporting our community by offering high-quality, urgent medical care for non-life-threatening conditions.

SWSPHN CEO Keith McDonald (left), with State Health Minister Ryan Park (centre) and staff at the Gregory Hills UCS.

Expanding access to Urgent Care

Since their launch, the Urgent Care sites in Bankstown, Campbelltown, Liverpool and Gregory Hills have been essential in alleviating pressure on local emergency departments (EDs).

A fifth site in Fairfield is set to open in November 2024, further expanding access to urgent care across the region.

These clinics operate seven days a week, including public holidays from 8am till late, ensuring even greater availability of care.

A vital alternative to emergency departments

A promising 41 per cent of Urgent Care site users surveyed indicated they would have sought care at an ED if Urgent Care had not been available to them.

UCCs are designed to allow walk-in patients and referrals while UCSs have a single front door approach via Healthdirect bookings online or on 1800 022 222, however, cannot turn patients away if they walk in to receive care.

Urgent Care is designed to complement primary care providers, ensuring patients receive timely, episodic care while reducing the strain on hospital Eds. Patients who access Urgent Care are referred to their usual GP for follow-up.

Clinicians can contact all Urgent Care sites via the clinician hotlines for patient advice and referrals, as listed on HealthPathways.

Comprehensive care for urgent needs

Urgent Care sites in South Western Sydney are equipped to manage a wide range of minor illnesses and injuries, including respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses, urinary tract infections, minor fractures, lacerations, and burns.

With on-site access to radiology and pathology, these clinics offer comprehensive care under one roof, providing essential services such as wound management, fracture care, intravenous therapy and more.

Looking ahead

As we celebrate this significant milestone, we look forward to continuing to expand and enhance access to healthcare in South Western Sydney.

The upcoming opening of the Fairfield UCC will mark another step forward in our mission to improve healthcare access for all residents of South Western Sydney.

Find out about Urgent Care
06 August 2024

NSW Health has issued a safety alert updating information about the critical disruption to the supply of multiple intravenous (IV) fluid bags.

According to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the shortages are due to multiple factors including global supply limitations, unexpected increases in demand and manufacturing issues.

The shortages include products from all three Australian suppliers (Baxter Healthcare, B.Braun, and Fresenius Kabi).

It is expected the shortages will also affect primary healthcare providers in their practice, particularly those who provide infusion therapies such as iron infusions or urgent care.

To minimise the impact of these shortages, the TGA has approved multiple overseas-registered alternative saline fluids.

The TGA will continue to monitor the supply and work closely with the sponsors and state and territory health departments to reduce the impact of the shortage.

Read the alert

Read more on the TGA’s website

30 July 2024
Dr Freelander with Minister Butler.

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler took the opportunity to visit the improved facilities at the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) at Campbelltown during a visit to the region on Tuesday, 30 July. 

Mr Butler was joined by SWSPHN Planning and Performance Director Amy Prince, Macarthur MP, Dr Michael Freelander, and representatives from ForHealth which operates the clinic co-located at Campbelltown Medical and Dental Centre. 

The Campbelltown Medicare UCC is one of three clinics providing Urgent Care in our region between the hours of 8am and 8pm (and extending to 10pm by the end of the year), seven days a week, with others at Liverpool and Bankstown. A fourth site will open at Fairfield in November. 

Patients do not need an appointment or referral to access the service. 

Find out more 

An Urgent Care Service is also open at Gregory Hills between 8am and 8pm. Patients can access the service by first calling healthdirect for free, anytime on 1800 022 222. 

Find out more 

Mr Butler said Urgent Care Clinics were going from strength to strength. 

NSW now has 20 operational Medicare UCCs. The clinics have seen more than 96,000 presentations to date. 

During his visit, Mr Butler said the Campbelltown UCC, which opened last December, had already seen about 5,000 patients, “every single one of whom was fully bulk billed”. 

“About one in three of them were kids under the age of 15, falling off skateboards, getting injured at sport. 

“We know that the vast bulk of them, if they weren’t able to come to this clinic, would have waited hours and hours in the Campbelltown Hospital emergency department. 

“(These clinics are) delivering free care where people need it, but also taking pressure off our hospitals.” 

SWSPHN has worked closely with the Federal and State Governments to provide these services in our region. 

10 July 2024

SWSPHN Director of Innovation and Partnerships, Kristen Short, joined representatives from MyHealth, and Federal MPs Jason Clare and Tony Burke to tour the new Medicare Bankstown Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) on Tuesday, 9 July – the latest state-funded Urgent Care Service to transition to a federally-funded UCC.

Bankstown UCC is the third UCC to open in our region with sites at Campbelltown and Liverpool also open seven days a week, from 8am to 8pm, for non-life-threatening conditions, with no appointment needed.

The clinics provide care for urgent health conditions which cannot wait for a patient’s usual GP but do not require emergency department attention, including broken bones, wounds, minor burns and infections and illnesses such as urinary tract infections and gastroenteritis.

A fourth Medicare UCC for our region will open in Fairfield, with general practices in the LGA invited to submit a Request for Proposal (RFP) to establish the service. The RFP will close on Monday, 22 July at 10am. Find out more

The Medicare UCCs are completely bulk billed, meaning more people can access high-quality care quickly, at no cost. The clinics aim to take pressure off the state’s busy emergency departments.

Bankstown Medicare UCC is located at Bankstown Medical and Dental Centre, 67 Rickard Road, Bankstown.

Find out more about UCCs

19 June 2024

Dr Keith McDonald PhD and Health Minister Mark Butler.

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler joined McMahon MP Chris Bowen, SWSPHN CEO Dr Keith McDonald PhD, primary carers and community members to announce plans to boost urgent GP care in the city by establishing a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Fairfield. Read more

A Request for Proposal to establish the second Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in our region will open tomorrow. The first was established in Campbelltown in December 2023. Read more

Practices in the Fairfield Local Government Area will receive an email from SWSPHN tomorrow afternoon with details on how to submit your RFP response and of an information session which will be held next Wednesday at 5pm.

Mr Butler also announced the existing state-run Liverpool Urgent Care Service will transition to a Medicare UCC from 1 July, ensuring a national approach to reducing the number of people attending emergency departments for urgent, but non-life threatening, conditions.

The centres give locals access to care seven days a week, over extended hours, with no appointment required. Importantly, the clinics will be completely bulk billed meaning more people can access high-quality care quickly, at no cost.

The Fairfield region was chosen in consultation with the NSW Government to help meet the needs of the local community and ease pressure on Fairfield Hospital. Both clinics will provide treatment for a range of urgent, but not life-threatening conditions, such as sprains, infections or cuts. Read more about Urgent Care

The state-run Urgent Care Services at Gregory Hills and Bankstown will continue to deliver care in their communities. Read more

23 May 2024

SWSPHN’s CEO, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, and Primary Care Workforce Manager Bianca Lean, joined State Health Minister Ryan Park at the official opening of the Urgent Care Service (UCS) at Gregory Hills this morning (Thursday, 23 May).

The Gregory Hills UCS is a partnership between NSW Health and SWSPHN.

It is one of four urgent care centres in South Western Sydney – with others located at Bankstown, Liverpool and Campbelltown – aiming to take pressure off our region’s busy hospital emergency departments.

Dr McDonald joined Minister Park, South Western Sydney Local Health District Chief Executive Sonia Marshall, Camden MP Sally Quinnell, principal GPs Dr Ben Touma and Dr Atifa Khan, and other staff at My Family Health Medical Centre which is delivering the service, on a tour of the service’s facilities.

They also chatted about the importance of the service to the rapidly expanding and diverse local community.

Find out about accessing urgent care