Urgent Care

What do we offer?

Mallee Track Health and Community Service has Urgent Care Centres (UCC) at Ouyen and Sea Lake staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year by Registered Nurses (RN’s). Visiting General Practitioners (GP’s) are on call when available.

All RN’s and GP’s who work in the UCC have mandatory Advanced Life Support training. The main role of the UCC is to stabilise and refer, however at times patients may receive definitive care and reassurance and transfer is not required.

Unless it is a life threatening emergency or an urgent case, you may not see a Doctor. There may also be occasions where you will consult with a Doctor remotely via My Emergency Doctor.  Your care may be provided by a Registered Nurse and it may be recommended for you to make an appointment at the medical clinic if your condition is considered non-urgent. You must return to the UCC if your condition worsens.

Upon presentation you will be assessed and if your condition warrants it, arrangements will be made to transfer you to the appropriate regional or metropolitan hospital.

If a transfer from the UCC is required, you will be billed by Ambulance Victoria. It is therefore important that you have Ambulance membership to cover the costs. It is important to check your Private Health Insurance or concession status as they may cover costs involved with Ambulance transfer. The medical transportation costs are quite significant so you are urged to have Ambulance membership or check your eligibility for cover. It is important to have this reassurance prior to an emergency or urgent situation occurring. For further information please go to Ambulance Victoria.

An Emergency Department is staffed with dedicated Doctor’s and Nurse’s with a full suite of emergency equipment and treatment options. An Urgent Care Centre has ward staff and a GP on call (when available). They are able to administer emergency care and arrange transfer for further care. Common reasons for visits to UCC are;

• Chest pain
• Head injury
• Difficulty breathing
• Uncontrollable bleeding
• Trauma post a serious accident and
• A very unwell infant or child

Always call 000 for an Ambulance for any of the above conditions.

Nurse On Call is a valuable resource and can be phoned anytime 1300 60 60 24.

Community availability