URGENT CARE Outside of Western Sydney Emergency Departments
A new urgent care service has been established in Western Sydney to help our community access the right care at the right time. If you need urgent medical attention that isn’t lifethreatening, you can now receive care at a Western Sydney Urgent Care Service instead of via a hospital emergency department. Urgent Care Service centres aren’t like your usual GP and they’re not emergency departments; they are something in between. It’s a new type of service by the Western Sydney Care Collective to get you and your loved ones the right care at the right time. By calling the Urgent Care Line, 1800 371 372, you can speak with a trained health professional who will assess your needs and book you into a FREE Urgent Care Service, if needed. They can also refer you to a range of other care providers in Western Sydney. In some cases, visiting an Urgent Care Service centre allows you to access the right care in the right place, freeing up the emergency department to treat more life-threatening conditions. Urgent Care Services are free and may be able to offer additional free services such as x-ray and pathology. Find out more at urgentcare-ws.com.au
What do Urgent Care Services treat? Urgent Care Services provide treatment for minor illnesses and injuries that aren’t life-threatening. The Urgent Care Line will help you get the right care when you’re not sure if you need to go to emergency or an Urgent Care Service.
Urgent Care Service centres provide medical care for: • M inor injuries such as suspected fractures, sprains and dislocations • Minor wounds and cuts requiring stitches • Bites • Minor burns • Removal of foreign objects from skin, eyes and ears
Case Study Jackson* is four years old and presented to an Urgent Care Service (UCS) centre after he tripped on a toy whilst getting out of bed and fell heavily on his wrist. His mum noticed a pussy blister on his hand and took him to see his GP. The GP prescribed antibiotics and ordered an x-ray, which showed a subtle fracture of his wrist. Jackson’s mum had heard about the new urgent care service and brought him to an Urgent Care Service centre with a copy of the x-ray rather than taking him to an emergency department to receive treatment. The UCS team were able to apply a cast to Jackson’s wrist and were able to continue management of the fracture until the injury had improved. The UCS centre provided a discharge summary for Jackson’s GP and a plaster management advice sheet for Jackson’s family. *Name has been changed to protect the identity of this client.
Call the Urgent Care Line. If you need medical attention but you’re not sure how bad it is, call the Urgent Care Line on 1800 371 372. With one quick free phone call, they’ll assess the situation and book you into a free Urgent Care Service centre in Western Sydney if needed. You don’t need your GP to refer you. The Urgent Care Line is available Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm, except on public holidays.
Urgent Care Services are brought to you by the Western Sydney Care Collective, a Western Sydney Primary Health Network and Western Sydney Local Health District initiative. Find out more at westernsydneycarecollective.com.au
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