Residents of Dapto and surrounding communities will be able to access healthcare in a more timely way, and avoid unnecessary trips to the emergency department, with a new Urgent Care Service to open today.
The Dapto Urgent Care Service is delivered in partnership with COORDINARE, the South Eastern NSW Primary Health Network.
The Dapto Urgent Care Service will be open 365 days a year, from 8am– 8pm, and will be staffed by General Practitioners and nurses. To access the service, patients should call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
A registered nurse will assess the patient's condition and guide them to the care they need, including booking an appointment at the service on the patient's behalf or escalating their care to other services like NSW Ambulance if required.
Healthcare provided at Dapto Urgent Care Service will be bulk billed.
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 receive the most appropriate care.
The NSW Government has committed $124 million over two years to deliver 25 Urgent Care Services in NSW by mid-2025. It is also supported by funding from the Commonwealth Government.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
"The new Dapto Urgent Care Service will mean locals can receive care quickly for conditions which can be safely and appropriately treated outside the emergency department,"
"Urgent Care Services make it simple and easy for patients to access high quality urgent care.
"We can also take some of the pressure off our busy local hospitals through service like this one
here at Dapto, by reducing unnecessary ED presentations.
"It's conditions like wounds, minor burns, infections, sprains, minor breaks, gastroenteritis, rashes and conjunctivitis which can be treated at this new Urgent Care Service.
"As an Illawarra local, and as the Minister for Health I am extremely proud it will be available to Dapto residents from this week."
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Whitlam Stephen Jones:
"We want people to have access to their GP with their Medicare card, not their credit card.
Working with the NSW Government to deliver an urgent care service in Dapto and across Australia makes Medicare stronger,"
"Dapto is one of the fastest-growing areas in New South Wales. With this new urgent care service, locals can access medical care which will ease the burden on our emergency departments in Shellharbour and Wollongong."
Quotes attributable to Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson:
"This Urgent Care Service will make a huge difference to the local community,"
"This service will ensure the residents of Dapto are able to access the care and treatment they need, with shorter waiting times."
Quotes attributable to COORDINARE CEO Prudence Buist:
"The service will be staffed by experienced healthcare professionals and will give patients access to important diagnostic services on-site including radiology and pathology."
"We are committed to providing these patients with the best possible care and supporting the community in accessing local and appropriate urgent care to help them avoid waiting in the hospital's ED.
"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 stiches, suspected broken bones and skin infections that need antibiotics."