In a life threatening emergency dial Triple Zero (000)

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Our Community Care Nursing Service provides person-centred care for people with a range of conditions and health care needs.

About this service

We care for you at home or in one of our clinics. We provide comprehensive care, education and support to keep you as well and independent as possible in your community.

Our nursing services include:

  • wound care
  • continence services
  • primary palliative care
  • post-surgical care
  • medication management.

We also help people with complex conditions which require support, such as:

  • chest and pleurx drains
  • central line management
  • gastrostomy/tracheostomy/nasogastric tube management
  • home parenteral nutrition support
  • stoma care and more.

Our Specialist Clinical Nurse Consultants provide expert advice and support in the areas of continence, stoma, wound management, palliative care, chronic and complex care, and post-acute care.

Who we care for

We care for ACT residents of all ages.

The Community Nursing Service is a registered provider for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and is a short-term care provider for the Commonwealth Support Program. We have more information on accessing our service as an NDIS participant.

If you have a Home Care Package, you should be referred to your Home Care Package provider in the first instance.

How to access this service

We welcome referrals from:

  • General Practitioners (GPs)
  • Discharge Liaison Nurses
  • Health Professionals
  • Extended Care Paramedic services.

You can also refer yourself to our service. To make a referral phone Central Health Intake (CHI) on (02) 5124 9977 and ask to make an appointment with the community nursing service.

If you are 65 years old or over, or an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person aged 50 years or older, please book your community nursing services through the My Aged Care Contact Centre:

What to expect

While we don’t have a waiting list, we triage all referrals and some people might wait a few days to be seen where the need for a nursing visit is not urgent.

If the community nurse decides that you need to be visited in your home for medical reasons, we will arrange this with you. A morning or afternoon visit may be offered, however an arrival time cannot be guaranteed.  Nurses will visit between 8.30am and 5pm.

What to bring to your appointment

  • Any letters or correspondence from your GP or specialist

Where we’re located

Appointments are offered at:

You may also be offered an appointment at your home, if medically necessary.

Information for referrers

Please see Community HealthPathways for detailed referral criteria and information.

We accept after hours/weekend/public holiday referrals from health professionals only. These referrals are made via the LINK team.

Referral options:

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In the case of a life threatening emergency, dial Triple Zero (000).

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Contact us

Switchboard Canberra Hospital
(02) 5124 0000

International callers
+61 (2) 5124 0000

Switchboard North Canberra Hospital
(02) 6201 6111

International callers
+61 (2) 6201 6111

Switchboard other hospitals and services
(02) 5124 0000

International callers
+61 (2) 5124 0000

The switchboard handles all calls to, from and within the hospital 24 hours/seven days a week