Urgent Care or the Emergency Department: Which should you choose?

Urgent injuries or illnesses can happen when least expected and often the first place to seek relief that comes to mind is the nearest hospital emergency department (ED). However, depending on your symptoms and the severity of your condition, the ED might not always be your best option.

As initiatives across our region increase to take the pressure off our Emergency Services, immediate care is more accessible. Our medical centres currently offer our Sports & Injury Services which provides urgent care for a range of injury and illnesses during opening hours, complete with diagnostics.

Dedicated Urgent Care Services (UCS) will also soon be available at Castle Hill Medical Centre, Barwell Ave.

What is the difference between the emergency department and urgent care?

Many people who have a non-life-threatening urgent condition (NLTUC) opt to visit an emergency department when they cannot be seen or treated by a General Practitioner (GP), perhaps that’s due to limited availabilities or afterhours concerns. Urgent Care Service (UCS) centres will provide an alternative treatment option for patients who have a non-life-threatening illness or injury.

UCS centres are standard medical practices with the extra benefit of extended hours and walk-in appointments. The healthcare team maintain more experience with emergency situations than a regular medical practice.

About Urgent Care Service (UCS) centres

UCSs are available for semi-urgent and NLTUC, where a patient requires medical attention for an acute illness or injury. The ailment or injury requires attention but isn’t quite severe enough for an ED presentation. UCSs provide both regular primary care and urgent care as required.

The UCS centres have:

• Resources, medication, and medical preparations
• Experienced team including an ED nurse on rotation
• Extended operating hours (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm)
• Access to diagnostic services (imaging and pathology)

Please note that UCS isn’t for everyone. The centre should not be used in certain cases, including for children under three months of age, people over 65 years who require an infusion, people undergoing chemotherapy or those with a primary mental health diagnosis.

When to visit a UCS or Emergency?

UCS treat illnesses and injuries that are less life-threatening but still warrant prompt medical attention. You should visit a UCS centre if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms or injuries:

• Fractures and dislocations
• Sprained ankles, wrists, shoulders and knees
• Cuts and lacerations
• Burns or scalds
• Abrasions, bruises, or skin tears from falls
• Back pain and muscle strain
• Head injuries with concussion or loss of consciousness
• Injuries to ligaments, tendons and nerves
• Foreign bodies in the eye, ear or nose
• Bites or scratches from dogs and cats

With the above concerns, you can bypass the emergency department and still gain access to:

• Urgent diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of injuries
• X-rays and Images services
• Walk-in appointments
• Reduced cost with most expenses claimable with Medicare
• Safe, more secure environment than Emergency rooms
• When surgery is necessary, a referral to a surgeon or hospital is organised for the patient

If your condition is potentially serious or life-threatening, you should go directly to an ED.

You should visit the ED when you experience symptoms or injuries, including:

• Chest pain, or any other heart-related symptoms
• Stroke
• Seizures
• Poisoning
• Severe allergic reactions
• Difficulty breathing
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting or coughing blood
• Injuries from motor vehicle collisions
• Vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain in emergency
• Head trauma
• Broken bones

A Value-Based Urgent Care

In a Government initiative to increase access to urgent care, UCS centres will allow people who live in the Western Sydney Local Government Areas (LGAs) to book a same-day appointment and be seen and treated by an experienced GP. The concept will mitigate long wait times associated with emergency departments and take pressure off our emergency services. It also supports the continuity of patient care in a primary care setting.

The objective here is to reduce the number of patients requiring treatment for a NLTUC presenting to the Western Sydney EDs by providing access to sustainable and local patient-centred Urgent Care Services.

UCSs are equipped to provide care to those who require immediate attention, however, they are not able to handle life-threatening conditions.

It helps to think of UCSs as medical practices with extended hours and staff with emergency experience. Here the patient experiences reduced waiting times, improved health outcomes, and less cost associated with ED.

Beyond the current initiatives already on offer, Urgent Care Services* will soon be available at Castle Hill Medical Centre, Barwell Ave. Please stay tuned to our social media platforms and website for more updates.

*Urgent Care Service centres are a Western Sydney Care Collective initiative, a collaboration between the Western Sydney Primary Health Network and the Western Sydney Local Health District.

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