Patients, families and carers on the Central Coast will be able to access faster medical care and avoid unnecessary trips to hospital with the construction of a new Urgent Care Clinic at Long Jetty.
Minister for Health Ryan Park said work was already underway on the design of the new Urgent Care Clinic, which will be located on the campus at Long Jetty Healthcare Centre.
“The Long Jetty Urgent Care Clinic will ensure patients can access the right care, at the right time and in the right place, whilst also easing pressure on the region’s busy emergency departments,” Mr Park said.
“Almost 39,000 people presented to Central Coast emergency departments in the final quarter of 2022, and nearly half of these were triage category four and five patients with less serious conditions.
“Many of these people could have received more timely and better tailored care within the community setting, and that’s where this Urgent Care Service will make a big difference.”
The clinic will be available seven days a week, from 8am to 8pm, including on public holidays.
Patients will access the Urgent Care Clinic by calling Healthdirect and speaking with a registered nurse.
Minister Park said the nurse will help patients understand the severity of their symptoms and connect them with the right healthcare for their needs, whether that is the Long Jetty Urgent Care Clinic, or another appropriate service.
“The Long Jetty Urgent Care Clinic will be staffed by GPs, nurses, and allied health clinicians, and services at the clinic will be provided at no cost to patients,” Mr Park said.
“This multidisciplinary team will be able to provide the high quality and safe healthcare patients need, which may also include referring them into the Hospital in the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ service or other community services if additional care and support are needed.”
Member for the Entrance, David Mehan, said the model will help reduce pressure on local emergency departments so they can focus on treating patients with more serious and life-threatening conditions.
“My community was concerned about the future of Long Jetty Healthcare Centre after the removal of services under the former government,” Mr Mehan said.
“I’ve been advocating for an expansion of services at Long Jetty and that’s what today’s announcement delivers for my constituents and the Central Coast.”
Funding for the Long Jetty Urgent Care Clinic is being provided as part of the NSW Government’s $124 million program over two years to deliver a new Urgent Care System and 25 Urgent Care Services.
The Long Jetty Urgent Care Service is expected to be operational by early 2024.
