Use an after-hours service when your condition isn’t critical but can’t wait for your regular doctor. After-hours services should only be utilised for non-emergency medical care when your regular GP is closed, such as late at night or on weekends. Keep the hospital emergency room for emergencies only.
If you are experiencing a time-critical emergency and/or dealing with unconsciousness, chest pain, difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding or a major accident, dial 000 immediately.
After-hours periods are:
- before 8am or after 6pm on weekdays
- before 8am or after 12pm (noon) on Saturdays
- and all day on Sundays and public holidays
We recommend patients:
- contact their regular GP to check if their regular GP is open or has after-hours arrangements in place
- take note of extended work hours their local GP may have during the holidays
- contact one of the commissioned after-hours services below or other available after-hours services in the region as per the patient’s preference
In addition to after-hours healthcare services, patients may also access healthcare such as healthdirect and Urgent Care. See below.