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.
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 CareSWSPHN’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.
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 CareNSW 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
State Health Minister Ryan Park emphasised the importance of Urgent Care Services in “taking pressure off busy emergency departments”, at this morning’s official opening of the Liverpool Urgent Care Service.
SWSPHN’s Director of Planning and Performance, Amy Prince, joined the celebration, along with South Western Sydney Local Health District’s Sonia Marshall, Liverpool MP Charishma Kaliyanda, representatives from healthdirect, Myhealth, Medibank, Myhealth Medical Centre Liverpool staff and a local family with newborn twins who’ve already used the service.
The new service is one of four new urgent care centres our community can access for healthcare which is urgent, but not life threatening including minor fractures and sprains, mild burns, and minor eye and ear problems.
Find out how to access urgent medical care
A new level of healthcare, which aims to reduce the stresses on hospital emergency departments, is now available throughout South Western Sydney. The following services have commenced at Bankstown, Campbelltown, Gregory Hills and Liverpool.
Campbelltown
Medicare Urgent Care Clinic
Located at Campbelltown Medical & Dental Centre, 296 Queen Street, Campbelltown.
Open 7 days a week 8am-8pm.
Walk-ins and online appoints available.
*Free for Medicare card holders and community-based asylum seekers.
Gregory Hills
Urgent Care Service
Located at My family Health Gregory Hills, 3 Rodeo Road, Gregory Hills.
By appointment through healthdirect or GP referral only.
Open 7 days a week 8am-8pm, including on public holidays.
Call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 to speak to a nurse who will determine your need for urgent care and make an appointment on your behalf. The nurse will confirm your appointment time and address.
*Free for Medicare card holders and community-based asylum seekers.
Liverpool
Urgent Care Service
Located at MyHealth Liverpool, Level 2 (next to Commonwealth Bank), Liverpool Westfield.
By appointment through healthdirect or GP referral only.
Open 7 days a week 8am-8pm, including on public holidays.
Call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 to speak to a nurse who will determine your need for urgent care and make an appointment on your behalf. The nurse will confirm your appointment time and address.
*Free for Medicare card holders and community-based asylum seekers.
Bankstown
Urgent Care Service
Located at Bankstown Medical and Dental Centre (ForHealth), 67 Rickard Road, Bankstown.
By appointment through healthdirect or GP referral only.
Open 7 days a week 8am-8pm, including on public holidays.
Call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 to speak to a nurse who will determine your need for urgent care and make an appointment on your behalf. The nurse will confirm your appointment time and address.
*Free for Medicare card holders and community-based asylum seekers.
When to seek urgent care
Urgent care is for when it’s urgent, but not an emergency.
Such as:
- minor infections
- minor fractures, sprains, sports injuries and neck and back pain
- urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- minor cuts
- insect bites and rashes
- minor eye and ear problems
- respiratory illness
- gastroenteritis
- mild burns
If you are unsure where to go call healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
The communities of Liverpool, Bankstown and Camden now have greater access to advice and treatment for their urgent healthcare needs without having to wait at a busy hospital emergency department.
NSW Government-funded Urgent Care Services (UCS) have opened at Liverpool, Bankstown and Gregory Hills providing one-off care for urgent healthcare needs which are not life-threatening and is safe to provide in a healthcare setting outside of an emergency department.
The services are a collaboration between NSW Health and SWSPHN.
SWSPHN Chief Executive Officer, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, welcomed the opening of the local UCS’.
Dr McDonald said the services were intended to complement the role of GPs by providing short-term, episodic care for urgent, non life-threatening conditions, while also relieving pressure on already stretched emergency departments.
“If your GP is closed or you can’t get an appointment, and your condition cannot wait until you can see your regular GP, you can call Healthdirect for advice on accessing appropriate care,” he said.
“Urgent Care Services can treat minor illnesses like gastrointestinal illness or urinary tract infections; minor injuries like closed fractures or simple lacerations; and procedures like suturing, drainage of abscesses and basic fracture management.
“The services mean our community can get the care they need without having to wait in an emergency department, and allow our busy emergency departments to focus on the most critically ill or injured patients.”
The NSW Government has committed $124 million in funding over two years to deliver 25 Urgent Care Services across NSW by 30 June 2025.
Treatment is free for all Medicare eligible card holders.
The new services are open seven days a week (including public holidays) from 8am to 8pm.
Residents can access the services by calling Healthdirect for free, anytime on 1800 022 222.
Callers speak with a registered nurse who asks a series of questions about their condition and then guides them to the care they need (for interpreter services, call TIS on 131 450 and ask for Healthdirect).
The Healthdirect nurse can:
- connect the patient with a health expert by phone or video call
- book the patient an appointment at a local Urgent Care Service
- connect the patient with other appropriate, locally available healthcare, including the patient’s usual GP
- call the patient an ambulance or direct them to the nearest emergency department if their situation is an emergency
For more information about Urgent Care Services, visit health.nsw.gov.au