Armidale Urgent Care Service (UCS) will temporarily close to patients from today, while Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network works with the local operator to undertake further recruitment of GPs for the service.
Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network Chief Executive Officer Richard Nankervis said the Armidale UCS is working towards reopening to patients in the coming months.
"We are committed to supporting this service for the people of Armidale, and we will keep the community up to date as this important recruitment work progresses," Mr Nankervis said.
NSW Health has partnered with primary health networks to deliver 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 place.
The Armidale Urgent Care Service is being delivered by NSW Health in partnership with the Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network.
NSW Health Deputy Secretary Adjunct Professor Matthew Daly said that NSW Health will continue to work closely with the Primary Health Network and Armidale UCS so that it can continue to meet the needs of the local community into the future.
"Attracting and retaining the required healthcare staff, particularly to rural and remote areas, remains a long-standing challenge for NSW and every other state and territory across Australia," Prof Daly said.