Call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 to get fast medical attention for health issues that are not life-threatening.
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Call Triple Zero (000) if you have a life-threatening emergency.
Emergency departments in NSW continue to be extremely busy, with many people presenting with urgent care needs that could be treated quickly and appropriately by other health services.
The NSW Government has committed $124 million in funding over two years to deliver 25 Urgent Care Services in NSW by mid-2025.
This expansion of Urgent Care Services in NSW communities supports emergency departments to focus on the most critically ill or injured patients and supports the key role of primary care providers in providing urgent care.
Urgent care is medical attention that is required within 2-12 hours for an illness or injury that is not life-threatening. This medical attention can safely be provided in a healthcare setting outside of an emergency department.
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. Urgent Care Services are provided either in-person or virtually (on the phone or by video call).
Urgent Care Services in NSW are being delivered through collaboration between Local Health Districts, Primary Health Networks, Specialty Health Networks and local primary care and community care services.
People should use an Urgent Care Service if they need fast medical attention for a health issue that is not life-threatening, or if they are unable to get an appointment at a local General Practitioner (GP) for a health issue which should not be left untreated.
Urgent Care Services give people the treatment they need quickly, without waiting in a busy emergency department.
People of all ages living in or visiting NSW with urgent care needs can access a range of in-person and virtual Urgent Care Services by calling healthdirect on 1800 022 222. For language support, people should first call TIS National on 131 450 and ask for healthdirect.
healthdirect is available to call for free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Callers speak with a registered nurse who asks some questions about their condition and then guides them to the care they need in the right place for their situation and location, including but not limited to an Urgent Care Service.
For some in-person Urgent Care Services, the healthdirect nurse can book an appointment on the caller’s behalf.
It is free for anyone to call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 and receive information, advice or be connected with a health care service, including an Urgent Care Service.
Treatment through an Urgent Care Service is free for people with a Medicare card and for community-based asylum seekers.
Urgent Care Services are generally open from 8am to 8pm every day of the week, including on public holidays. Some virtual Urgent Care Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
healthdirect is available to call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 1800 022 222. By calling healthdirect on 1800 022 222 to access an Urgent Care Service, people can be connected with an appropriate, available service in their location.
Of the 25 Urgent Care Services being funded by the NSW Government, several will be delivered during 2023 in these Local Health Districts (LHDs):
In addition, two virtual Urgent Care Services are available state-wide:
All 25 NSW Government-funded Urgent Care Services will be operational by mid-2025. Further service locations will be made available as they are confirmed.
The Australian Government has also committed funding to deliver health services which provide urgent care in NSW, through Medicare Urgent Care Clinics which are being established in a range of NSW locations:
For further information about NSW Government-funded Urgent Care Services being delivered in local communities, please contact the relevant Local Health District or Primary Health Network.
Further information about Australian Government-funded Medicare Urgent Care Clinics being delivered in local communities is available on the Australian Government website.
See all the latest media releases from NSW Health.
