THE new $700,000 Urgent Care Centre at Wauchope District Memorial Hospital's was officially opened on Wednesday.
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THE new $700,000 Urgent Care Centre at Wauchope District Memorial Hospital's was officially opened on Wednesday.
Representatives from the area health service along with three tiers of government, hospital staff, board members and the public attended the event on Wednesday morning.
The Urgent Care Centre has been operating from and interim location within the existing hospital since early March, replacing the hospital's Emergency Department.
The new facility, funded by the NSW State Government has been embraced by the local community, providing improved facilities for patients and staff.
VIDEO: Dr Robert Pegram, Coordinator, Hastings-Macleay Clinical Network, Mid North Coast Local Health District discusses the importance of the new facilities to Wauchope and Mid North Coast health system
These include a reception area where patients can discuss matters confidentially, access to public toilets and improved waiting areas. The hospital's x-ray service has already increased from five and a half to seven days a week.
The Urgent Care Centre has replaced the hospital's Emergency Department, with operating hours from 8am to 6pm seven days a week.
Outside of the Urgent Care Centre's operating hours people requiring care need to either attend the Port Macquarie Base Hospital Emergency Department or one of the extended hours General Practitioner Clinics, or call the Healthdirect Line on 1800 022 222 for advice.
Hastings Macleay Clinical Network Director of Emergency Services Dr Alan Forrester said the Urgent Care Centre does not have the capacity to see patients requiring Emergency Department care - such as chest pain, abdominal pain, urgent pregnancy related conditions, moderate and severe trauma or acute neurological conditions.
The Urgent Care Centre can treat moderate to minor injuries and illness such as lacerations, fractures and muscular skeletal injury.
If you have chest pain, acute breathing difficulty, severe abdominal pain or a head injury you should call Triple Zero (000) and ask for an Ambulance.
Seriously ill patients should always be treated at a hospital which has trauma capability and 24-hour access to specialist facilities," Dr Forrester said.
Dr Forrester reminded the community that NSW Ambulance has highly trained staff who commence treatment over the phone, even before paramedics arrive.
The purpose-built Urgent Care Centre was constructed by Kempsey company O'Donnell and Hanlon which also built the new Palliative Care Unit located at the rear of the hospital.
