The St George community can now access healthcare in a more timely way, and avoid unnecessary trips to the emergency department (ED), thanks to a new Urgent Care Service (UCS) at Carlton which opened its doors to patients.

The Carlton Urgent Care Service is part of a $124 million program to deliver 25 urgent care services across the state by June 2025.

These new services aim to bridge the gap between primary and emergency care, ensuring that patients have fast access to the urgent care they need without having to turn to a busy emergency department where they may endure a long wait while more seriously ill or injured people are prioritised.

The service is designed 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.

The Carlton Urgent Care Service will be open 365 days a year, from 8am to 8pm, and will be staffed by General Practitioners and nurses with important diagnostic services available including pathology and radiology.

The community can access the service by calling Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 and treatment is free for Medicare card holders and community-based asylum seekers.

Callers speak with a registered nurse who asks questions to assess the patient’s condition, before guiding them to the care they need, and can even make a booking on the caller’s behalf.

If you need language support, call TIS National on 131 450 and ask for Healthdirect.

The Carlton Urgent Care Service will integrate with other health services and organisations in the St George region, including local primary care providers, NSW Ambulance and St George Hospital.

NSW Health has partnered with primary health networks to deliver additional urgent care services right across the state, in an effort to ease pressure on busy hospital EDs and ensure the people of NSW continue to receive care at the right time and in the right place.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

"The new Carlton Urgent Care Service will mean the local community can access high quality care from a nurse or a doctor instead of heading to a hospital emergency department."

"It’s a win for patients who won’t have to wait in busy emergency departments, and it’s a win for hospitals because it helps ease pressure for non life-threatening cases."

"We are rebuilding our healthcare system so that people can receive the care they deserve, when they need it."