Do I Need Urgent Care?
Urgent care is medical care focussed on conditions that require acute treatment, though are not life-threatening emergencies.
The service has been established to offer the community a greater choice in how they access urgently needed medical care. No referral or appointment is needed.
At the Urgent Care Centre in Launceston, our doctors and nurses are equipped to and experienced in diagnosis and treatment of a range of urgent medical conditions, illnesses and injuries.
Use our online tool or talk to one of our staff to find out if your health condition would be suitable for treatment in the Urgent Care Centre.
How do I decide to go to my local GP, Urgent Care or the Emergency Department?
If you have any condition that can wait several hours or days or any chronic or long-standing condition > GP
If you have any conditions that require immediate medical attention but are not life-threatening or limb-threatening > URGENT CARE (NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED)
If you have any life-threatening condition > EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT LAUNCESTON GENERAL HOSPITAL
The Emergency Department at the LGH is designed to treat patients suffering life-threatening illness or injury. Because of this, wait times for non-life-threatening injuries or illness can be lengthy.
The Urgent Care Centre in Launceston is a key part of the Newstead Health Nexus. It is open 8am-8pm Monday to Friday and 8am-4pm on weekends and is designed to treat patients suffering from a wide range of non-life-threatening conditions which require immediate attention.
Experienced medical and nursing staff are equipped to undertake immediate assessment with rapid turnover of results including x-ray, ultrasound and blood tests, and able to provide urgent treatments including intravenous antibiotics and fluids, and treatment of acute injuries including limb fractures and more complex lacerations. Importantly, these treatments aim to prevent urgent conditions becoming life-threatening. If required, doctors in Urgent Care may be able to refer eligible patients to private hospitals for inpatient treatment, or the Emergency Department for admission to the LGH if necessary.
We are supported with radiology services through X-Ray Newstead, who operate from 9am-1pm and 2pm-8pm on weekdays, and from 9am-12pm and 2pm-8pm on Saturday and Sunday. A call-back service is available as determined clinically necessary by the treating team.
The doctor in Urgent Care will provide a summary of the patient’s condition, tests and treatment to the patient’s local GP to assist in follow-up and longer-term care.
Here is a list of some examples of the common illnesses or injuries treated at the Urgent Care Centre in Launceston and importantly, identifies some common and less common ones that should go directly to the LGH Emergency Department.
Abdominal pain - sudden and/or severe Emergency Department
Allergy Urgent Care
Anaphylaxis - severe Emergency Department
Asthma attack - mild/moderate Urgent Care
Asthma attack - severe Emergency Department
Back pain Urgent Care
Bleeding - severe Emergency Department
Breathing difficulties - severe Emergency Department
Bruises and lacerations Urgent Care
Burns - minor Urgent Care
Burns - major Emergency Department
Chest pain Emergency Department
Cough (without fever) Urgent Care
Ear ache Urgent Care
Eye irritation/redness Urgent Care
Fainting - brief Urgent Care
Fainting - prolonged Emergency Department
Fever (without COVID-19 symptoms) Urgent Care
Fitting Emergency Department
Fracture - suspected Urgent Care
Fracture - major/breaking the skin Emergency Department
Foreign object - ear, nose, eye Urgent Care
Headache or migraine Urgent Care
Headache - severe or sudden Emergency Department
Head trauma - severe Emergency Department
Heartburn Urgent Care
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea Urgent Care
Poisoning or overdose Emergency Department
Rash Urgent Care
Sinus pain Urgent Care
Snake bite Emergency Department
Sprain Urgent Care
Suspected heart attack Emergency Department
Suspected stroke Emergency Department
Unconsciousness Emergency Department
Urine or kidney infection/pain Urgent Care
Visual loss - sudden Emergency Department