An Urgent Care Service is a health service that provides short-term, one-off care for urgent health care needs that are not life-threatening. Medical care is provided for an illness or injury that can be managed without visiting a hospital emergency department, but cannot wait for a regular appointment with a GP.
Urgent care services support nearby hospital emergency departments by providing GP-led care for urgent but non-life-threatening conditions such as mild infections, fractures and burns. They also offer pathology and imaging services onsite or nearby.
Urgent care services are free for Medicare card holders and community-based asylum seekers and support the community to access local, appropriate urgent care and avoid waiting at the emergency department.
Patients should be encouraged to access urgent care when they need fast medical attention for a health issue that is not life-threatening, or if they are unable to get an appointment at their local General Practitioner (GP) for a health issue which should not be left untreated.
Urgent Care Services are commissioned by primary health networks with funding from the NSW and Australian governments. In the CESPHN region, the Australian Government is funding one Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (UCC) in Maroubra. The New South Wales Government is funding two Urgent Care Services (UCS) in Carlton and Caringbah.
