Topic: Urgent care

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’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 Care

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

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. 

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

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.

Find out more

 

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.

Read more at NSW Health

 

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.

Read more at NSW Health

 

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.

Read more at NSW Health

 

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.