An Urgent Care Service has just opened in North Richmond to stem the flow of people visiting busy hospital emergency departments for non-emergency care. Healthcare provided at North Richmond Urgent Care Service is bulk-billed.
To access the service, patients should call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222. A registered nurse will assess the patient’s condition and then discuss with the patient the best place for their care needs. This may include an appointment at the North Richmond Urgent Care Service, a telehealth appointment with the virtualKIDS or virtualGP services or escalating their care to other services like NSW Ambulance if required.
The North Richmond Urgent Care Service is being delivered in partnership with Wentworth Healthcare, the provider of the Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network (PHN).
Wentworth Healthcare CEO, Lizz Reay stated “We have been working towards this outcome for the Hawkesbury for some time and are pleased to have played our part in providing this service. We knew that there was a real need for an alternative care pathway for the local community when they can’t access a GP quickly, particularly on weekends and after hours.
“Urgent care services fill an important gap, when care is needed quickly and urgently, but it’s still important to have a regular family GP, who should always be the first point of contact for your health care, if they are available.
“Having a GP that you can build a relationship with over time means that they get to know you, your medical history and your lifestyle, making it easier for you to talk to them about your health concerns and allowing them to better consider your overall health and preventative care needs.”
Health Minister Ryan Park said: “The North Richmond Urgent Care Service is open 365 days a year, from 8am to 8pm, and is staffed by general practitioners and nurses, with important diagnostic services close by including radiology and pathology.
“The service is well-supported to treat a range of illnesses and injuries that are deemed urgent, but not life-threatening, such as minor wounds that need stitches, suspected broken bones and skin infections that need antibiotics.
“I’m committed to increasing availability of healthcare to communities through urgent care services just like this one, which are aimed at bridging the gap between primary care and emergency care, ensuring that patients have fast access to the urgent care they need.
Labor spokesperson for Hawkesbury Peter Primrose MLC said: “This is an incredibly important service for people living in the Hawkesbury which will improve access to care, whilst also easing pressure on our local emergency departments.
“The co-design of this service was led by Wentworth Healthcare, together with the local community with attention paid to the location of the Urgent Care Service based on experience during flood events.
“This included the experience of patients being unable to access non-emergency care in the community due to flooding. The North Richmond Urgent Care Service is in a great location to increase access for local residents.”
