Urgent Care Clinics

If you or someone in your care has a life-threatening injury or illness, call triple zero (000) or go to your nearest emergency department.

Key facts

Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (Medicare UCCs) are clinics that provide urgent health care that does not require treatment in an emergency department.
Medicare UCCs are open for longer hours than regular clinics and provide bulk billed medical care.
You don't need an appointment or referral to be treated at a Medicare UCC.
Medicare UCCs can help if you have a medical problem that can't wait for an appointment with your doctor, such as an infection or minor fracture (broken bone).
If you have a serious or life-threatening condition, such as difficulty breathing or severe burns, visit your nearest emergency department — Medicare UCCs can't help with medical emergencies.

What are Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (Medicare UCCs)?

Medicare UCCs are where you can go to get urgent health care that doesn't require treatment in an emergency department. Medicare UCCs are usually run by GPs. They are open 7 days a week with extended hours.

Medicare UCCs offer walk-in care, which means you don't need to have an appointment beforehand.

Medicare UCCs provide bulk billed healthcare, which means you don't have to pay out-of-pocket for the service.

The Australian federal and state governments have set up Medicare UCCs across Australia, in:

Medicare UCCs provide access to urgent health care without needing to go to hospital. This also means that hospital emergency departments have more space to help patients who are very sick or have life-threatening emergencies.

What type of health issues can Medicare UCCs help me with?

Medicare UCCs can help when you have a medical condition that:

can't wait for an appointment with your doctor
is not serious enough for you to need to go to a hospital emergency department

When you arrive at a Medicare UCC a nurse or paramedic will triage you. This means they assess you and decide whether your condition can be treated at a Medicare UCC or if another service is more suitable.

When should I go to a Medicare UCC?

Examples of health conditions treated at a Medicare UCC include:

minor infections, including urinary tract infections (UTIs), sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and gastroenteritis ('gastro')
mild burns
small cuts needing stitches or glue
insect bites, stings and rashes
respiratory illnesses, such as a cold
minor eye and ear problems
minor fractures (broken bones), sprains and back pain

Some of the reasons you could visit an urgent care service for; Urinary tract infections (UTIs), Minor fractures and sprains, Mild burns, Coughs and
colds, Small cuts, Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), Insect bites and stings, Minor eye and ear problems — Some of the illnesses and injuries you can visit an urgent care service for.

When shouldn't I go to a Medicare UCC?

If you or someone in your care has a life-threatening injury or illness, call triple zero (000) or go to your nearest emergency department.

Medicare UCCs can't provide care in an emergency or life-threatening situation, and can't help with general health care.

Examples of emergency or life-threatening symptoms include:

chest pain or tightness
breathing difficulties
uncontrollable bleeding
severe burns
poisoning
seizures
ongoing fever in infants

See your usual doctor for general health care, such as:

diagnosis and treatment of many illnesses
general screening and health checks
vaccinations and prescriptions
mental health advice
family planning advice
referrals for tests, scans or specialist care
management of a chronic condition

Some doctors can provide same day appointments.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

How can I access a Medicare UCC?

It's free to get treatment at a Medicare UCC, and you don't need an appointment or a referral.

Bring your Medicare card if you have one. If you don't have a Medicare card, check if you are eligible and how to apply on the Services Australia (Opens in new tab) page.

You can find your nearest Medicare UCC (Opens in new tab) based on your postcode.

Resources and support

Go to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website (Opens in new tab) to learn more about when to visit a Medicare UCC (Opens in new tab).

Languages other than English

If English is not your preferred language, call The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) (Opens in new tab) on 131 450 for help.

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

Visit The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet (Opens in new tab) for links to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander medical services, such as:

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.