In an announcement late last week, the NSW Government announced a new ‘urgent care’ was open in Armidale. But unlike the ‘urgent care’ in Tamworth, they didn’t want to say where it was.
This was intentional. The new facility is at the UNE Life Healthcare Centre (Previously called the UNE Medical Centre) in Butler Street, but it is not a ‘walk in’ clinic like the Urgent Care in Tamworth.
Call first, don’t walk in
UNE Life says they are proud to be part of the new Armidale Urgent Care Service, which is an additional offering to their current General Practitioner services, delivered in partnership with the Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network, and working closely with the Hunter New England – Local
Health Districts, Armidale Hospital, Laverty Pathology, Armidale Ultrasound, and other partners.
But a spokesperson for UNE life and a spokesperson for the Department of Health both stressed the new service is not a ‘walk in’ service.
“The Armidale clinic is not a walk in service. Should you require urgent health care please call
Healthdirect at 1800 022 222.”
“A registered nurse will triage the call and determine the appropriate method of care.
“This may include an appointment at the Armidale Urgent Care Service, a telehealth appointment with the virtualKIDS or virtualGP services, or escalation to other services like NSW Ambulance if required.”
Healthcare provided at the Armidale Urgent Care Service is bulk billed and available to
Medicare cardholders and community-based asylum seekers.
“We’re really proud to play a part in this important community initiative, enhancing healthcare accessibility for our region in collaboration with a range of key stakeholders,” said UNE Life CEO David Schmude.
“The rollout of this service is one we want to execute strategically, with the aim of providing more timely and effective care, helping to reduce unnecessary visits to the emergency department.”
Australia catching up on Urgent Care
Urgent Care is not a new concept. Urgent care facilities have been used as a bridge between primary care doctors and emergency in the US since the 70’s, and a network of centres was rolled out in the UK in 2019. Many proposals for urgent care centres have been made by patient advocates and others in Australia for years.
The Federal Government committed to opening extended hours, walk-in style urgent care during the last election, and have so far established 58 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.
However, in the rush of both State and Federal Governments – and private providers – to create these new Urgent Care services to relieve pressure on both emergency rooms and GPs, they have established very different services with the same name, creating confusion in the community.
The services are relatively similar, but the process for accessing them and how they operate is quite different.
The Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Tamworth is funded by the federal government. It is an extended hours walk-in clinic that provides bulk-billed services for urgent, but not life-threatening conditions. So if you’ve burned yourself or need some stitches, you can now go to this clinic and be seen quickly, rather than going to emergency. The service is located at Northwest Health in Marius Street, and information is readily available on their website: https://www.tamworthurgentcare.com.au/
By contrast, the Armidale urgent care is funded by the NSW Government, and is technically called an ‘Urgent Care Service’ rather than an Urgent Care Clinic. It is not walk in, and the hours are not advertised. The only way you can be seen there is if you call the Health Direct number, 1800 022 222, they triage you, and make the appointment for you.
In other parts of the country there are also private providers getting in on the urgent care game. They are largely extended hours, walk in clinics like the federal scheme, but require an upfront cost of hundreds of dollars.
From little things, big things grow
It is not clear if the different models of urgent care are intentional or an accident as both levels of government ran to the proverbial chapel.
And while there has been confusion about the new Armidale service and how to access it, most are grateful of any additional health services.
The expansion of services will also require an expansion of doctors.
“We are actively recruiting more Health Practitioners within the UNE Life Health Care Service and the UCS Service,” a spokesperson for UNE Life said.
They’re also starting with limited hours to increase as people get used to it and use it more.
“We are beginning with a staged strategic rollout and may expand our hours as demand increases.”
International students or others who do not have a Medicare card will not be able to access the new service, and will need to continue to see their GP or attend Emergency.
UNE Life says they have raised the issue of international students with the Public Health Network and the Ministry of Health, and “hope to see some flexibility on this matter soon”.
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