NSW New More Than 55,000 Visits To Urgent Care Services

Patients across NSW have benefited from more than 55,000 visits to Urgent Care Services since the NSW Government rollout began in mid-2023, easing pressure on busy public hospital emergency departments. 

To 30 April, 2024, patients visited GP-led Urgent Care Services on 10,628 occasions while Local Health District-led urgent care services, such as geriatric outreach services and virtualKIDS, were visited on 44,555 occasions. 

The NSW Government has delivered 16 Urgent Care Services since July 2023, bridging the gap between primary and emergency care, ensuring that patients have fast access to the urgent care they need without having to turn to a busy emergency department. 

The results come as Minister for Health Ryan Park today officially opened the Gregory Hills Urgent Care Service and said it is making a significant contribution to the local community, with 580 visits since the service commenced on 6 February 2024. 

The Gregory Hills UCS makes a total of three urgent care services funded by the NSW Government in the south western Sydney region; the Campbelltown Medicare Urgent Care Clinic co-funded by the NSW and Australian Governments takes this total to four.

Gregory Hills UCS is open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm and is equipped and staffed to treat a range of illnesses and injuries that are not life-threatening.

To access the service, patients should call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222. A registered nurse will assess the patient’s condition and guide them to the care they need. This could include booking an appointment at the service on the patient’s behalf, referring them to another service such as virtualKIDS, or, where required, escalating their care to NSW Ambulance or advising the patient to attend an Emergency Department.

Patients needing language support can call TIS National on 131 450 and ask for Healthdirect.

The Gregory Hills Urgent Care Service has been delivered in partnership with South Western Sydney Primary Health Network (SWSPHN).

NSW Health has partnered with Primary Health Networks to deliver additional Urgent Care Services right across the state, in an effort to ease pressure on busy hospital EDs and ensure the people of NSW receive the most appropriate care.

The NSW Government has committed $124 million over two years to deliver 25 Urgent Care Services in NSW by mid-2025. It is also supported by funding from the Commonwealth Government.

Quotes attributable to Health Minister Ryan Park:

“Urgent Care Services like this one in Gregory Hills is an example of how the NSW Government is embracing new and innovative ways to relieve pressure on our emergency departments by diverting tens of thousands of unnecessary presentations.

“We don’t want to see people and their loved ones waiting around emergency departments for lengthy periods of time – it’s not good for them, our staff, or other patients.

“Having access to services like these within our communities means more patients can receive care for their urgent health issues in a community setting, without a stressful trip to hospital.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Camden Sally Quinnell: 

“Care at the Gregory Hills Urgent Care Service is provided by general practitioners and nurses and is free for Medicare card holders and community-based asylum seekers. “This service has been an important addition to the community as it’s working to ease pressure on our local emergency departments, which are among the busiest in the state.” 

Quotes attributable to Member for Leppington Nathan Hagarty:

“I’m so pleased hundreds of patients have already been able to access more appropriate, timely care as a result of this new Urgent Care Service.

“This service is about increasing access to healthcare, meaning families are able to get advice and treatment, all without having to step foot in a busy public hospital ED.”

Quotes attributable to SWSPHN Chief Executive Officer, Dr Keith McDonald:

“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.

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“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.”