If you need medical help for a condition that is not immediately life threatening, there are a range of services that don’t involve a trip to the emergency department.
Walk-in Centres
Our five Walk-in Centres provide free, one-off treatment of non-life threatening injury and illness. You do not need an appointment. Find out more about our Walk-in Centres.
General practitioner (GP)
GPs provide immediate short-term care and also complex long-term care. Your GP can and will refer you to other services if necessary, but they can usually provide all that you need in their surgery.
GPs are very good at helping you understand your health over time. Having a long term relationship with your GP is good for your preventive, mental and physical health.
If you don’t have a GP you know and like, you can find one using find-a-health service.
After hours GP care
Many GPs are open evenings or over the weekend. CALMS and 13 SICK - National Home Doctor Service also provide after hours GP care.
CALMS
CALMS provides after hours medical care and advice to all people living in and visiting the ACT.
A phone triage and appointment system, staffed by experienced registered nurses and call takers, operates Monday to Friday, 6pm to 8.30am, and 24 hours on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. To access this service or make an appointment phone 1300 422 567.
For more information visit the CALMS website.
13 SICK - National Home Doctor Service
Call 13 SICK (13 74 25) for a bulk billed, after hours doctor home visit.
The booking line is open from 6pm weekdays, 12pm Saturdays and all day Sunday and public holidays.
All home visits are bulk billed for patients with a Medicare of Gold DVA card.
For more information visit the Home Doctor website.
healthdirect
healthdirect provides free, trusted health information and advice, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Call their helpline on 1800 022 222. Their registered nurses are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide advice when you're not sure what to do — whether you should see a local GP, manage the condition at home, or go to an emergency department.
- If you have a hearing or speech impairment, call the National Relay Service on 1800 555 677 and ask to be transferred to healthdirect.
- If English is not your main language and you need an interpreter, call TIS National on 131 450 and ask to be transferred to healthdirect.
You can also get health advice online. healthdirect's online Symptom Checker will guide you through a set of easy questions to help you understand your symptoms and provide advice on what to do.
