FAQ

FAQ

What is the Urgent Care Centre?

The Urgent Care Centre is a privately owned stand-alone medical facility located adjacent to the Newstead Medical Practice. It provides timely medical assistance for non-life threatening medical conditions that require more than a GP visit but do not warrant a visit to the hospital Emergency Department.

Staffed by qualified and experienced doctors the centre is able to provide on-site assessment, timely diagnostics (pathology and radiology) and treatment of a wide range of conditions.

The service is open to anyone who experiences a non-life threatening medical condition or accident requiring urgent treatment. The service is not a replacement for your regular GP visits and is not designed to manage long term health issues.

If your illness or injury is severe then you should call 000 or proceed straight to the hospital Emergency Department. This would include circumstances of unconsciousness, severe chest pain, severe breathing difficulties, uncontrollable bleeding or if you have been involved in a major accident.

What if I present at Urgent Care but need to go to hospital?

If after an initial assessment our experienced team determine that you need hospitalisation, we will help coordinate your admission to a tertiary centre such as the Launceston General Hospital or a private hospital if appropriate.

No, the service is on a walk-in basis.

The Urgent Care Centre is open 7 days a week, from 8.00am to 8.00pm, though at this stage is closed on public holidays.

Your GP will be provided with a comprehensive report on your condition and treatment upon your discharge.

Any follow-up care and support can be delivered by your existing GP or a referral to the Community Rapid Response Service can be made on your behalf.

In order to access the convenience of the Urgent Care Centre a facility fee of $160 is payable upfront which is not rebatable by Medicare or private health. Any other fees charged for services delivered will be rebated in full through Medicare.

The State Government have committed to subsidise the facility fee for eligible concession-card holders who present with Urgent Care conditions after-hours (5-7pm weekdays and 8am-2pm on weekends). These patients MUST call us on 6338 9898 to be triaged to ensure that they fulfil government eligibility and are able to be treated in the Urgent Care Centre. A Medicare fee is still payable on discharge, though this is fully rebated.

Medicare does not currently provide any cover for the facility fee and health funds do not recognise the provision of emergency services.

The Urgent Care Centre is located at 165-167 Elphin Road, Newstead. Entrance is via the lift at the rear of the building which can be accessed via the laneway beside the pharmacy or directly from the car park in Olive Street.

Give us a call on 03 6338 9898 or email us on info@urgentcare.com.au.

Located Conveniently at Newstead Health Nexus, 165 Elphin Road

Urgent Care Centre Launceston is located within the Newstead Health Nexus, the home of Newstead Medical, Terry White Pharmacy, X-Ray Newstead, Launceston Pathology, and other complementary services. Free parking is onsite off Olive street.

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