The announcement from the New South Wales and Victorian Governments of a major expansion to urgent care services across both states is welcome news in Western Sydney. These services are crucial to supporting people with urgent but non-life-threatening conditions in accessing high-quality community-based care faster, freeing up capacity in emergency departments for patients with more critical needs.
In fact, the Western Sydney Care Collective, a partnership between Western Sydney Primary Health Network (WSPHN) and Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD), established the first GP-led urgent care service in NSW in September 2021. In the first seven months of operation, Wentworthville Medical and Dental Centre has treated over 2100 patients as part of NSW Health’s “collaborative commissioning” program, the success of which led to the rollout of a further three services and an Urgent Care Line in July 2022. The Urgent Care Line assesses patients’ needs and either books them into an Urgent Care Service, links them up with their usual care GP, or refers them to other health services, as appropriate for their situation, to ensure that people safely access the most appropriate care.
“Working in partnership with the Western Sydney Local Health District, our collaborative urgent care service model has begun to reform the way acute and primary care services work together. Patients in Western Sydney are now able to access timely, quality urgent care through our Urgent Care Line and four Urgent Care Services embedded within existing general practices. This new government announcement will build upon and expand this innovative model, making available similar services across the state. It is great to see an integrated community-based care approach being led by NSW” said Ray Messom, Chief Executive Officer of the Western Sydney Primary Health Network.
An Urgent Care Line assesses patients’ needs and either books them into an Urgent Care Service, links them up with their usual care GP, or refers them to other health services, as appropriate for their situation, to ensure that people safely access the most appropriate care.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) conservatively estimates that well-coordinated general practices could manage nearly one-third of all emergency department presentations, saving $1.5 billion a year[1]. The expansion of urgent care services across NSW and Victoria will ensure that the missing middle of Australian health care is addressed. This model utilises existing capacity within our primary health care system to treat urgent conditions, which frees up resources in hospitals.
We’re already seeing the value of Urgent Care Services in Western Sydney and are excited to see an increase in urgent care facilities in other regions. The investment from the NSW and Victorian state governments in integrated primary and hospital care will help ensure that more patients can access the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
Urgent Care Services in Western Sydney are an initiative under the Western Sydney Care Collective program, a partnership between the WSPHN and WSLHD.
More information on Urgent Care Services is available on the Western Sydney Care Collective website.
The Urgent Care Line is available Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm, except on public holidays, on 1800 371 372.
[1] RACGP, Vision for General Practice and a sustainable healthcare system (2019) available online: https://www.racgp.org.au/getattachment/e8ad4284-34d3-48ca-825e-45d58b2d49da/The-Vision-for-general-practice.aspx