When you or someone you know needs help quickly for an injury or illness, knowing where to go is essential to receive the right health care at the right time.
CHN invited feedback to understand what you know about urgent health care services available in the ACT. Below you can also find information about what urgent care is, and where you can find it in the ACT.
Thank you to those who completed the survey!
Our survey results showed that when respondents thought about urgent health care, the nurse-led Walk-in Centres (WiC) mostlycame to mind(60%), followed by the Emergency Department (ED) (40%) and then Canberra After HoursLocum Medical Service (CALMS)(20%). All respondents had used these services in the past year, while only one had visited the Woden Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC), likely because the Medicare UCC is new to the ACT, with the closest previously only available in Queanbeyan.
Respondents felt confident knowing when to go to the ED ora general practice, while most were unsure when to go to a WiC or Medicare UCC, or what the differences were between services. Despite feeling uncertain, some thought WiCs and Medicare UCCs were attractive options to see a health professional faster thanif they visited the ED or waited for a GP appointment. Many hoped for more urgent care options in north Canberra.
Most respondents had been redirected from one health service to another to better managea health condition. Respondents said WiCs commonly referred patients to the ED for emergencies or issues that were more serious, or back to their regular GP fornon‑urgent issues. Some people appreciated being pointed in the right direction, while others found it frustrating, particularly if they couldn’t see their GP quickly.
40% of peopleresponded theyfeltvery confidentchoosing the right health service for their needs. When unsure,most respondents would go to the internet, their GP, a family member or friend, or HealthDirect’s phone line.
To improve understanding, mostpeoplewanted clear online guidance with examples, online symptom checkers or advice from a health professional. They also asked for clear public communication, particularly about the differences between Medicare UCCs and WiCs to help people choose the right urgent care option.
People who answered the survey were aged between 25 to 65+ with representation from people living with a disability, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples, multicultural backgrounds, people identify in gas LGBTQIA+, concession card holders and carers of children and adults.
We thank everyone who answered the survey for their timeand look forward to using these insights to better inform CHN’s future planning and projects.
Sincewe ran this survey on MySay, Canberra Health Services has introduced a new webpage and navigation tool to help you quickly find the right health care services in the ACT. Visit their website here to explore your options.
