Emergency and urgent medical care
If someone’s life is in immediate danger call 000 or visit a hospital emergency department.
Life-threatening medical issues needing urgent medical help
If someone’s life is in danger, call 000 and ask for an ambulance. Find out how to call 000 on the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts website.
Medicare doesn’t cover the cost of emergency transport or ambulance services to hospital. Find out about ambulance cover arrangements in your state or territory on the PrivateHealth.gov website.
If you need urgent medical attention for a potentially life-threatening condition, go to a hospital emergency department.
Life-threatening conditions may include:
- chest pain
- symptoms of a stroke
- fever in infants
- severe mental health concerns
- uncontrollable bleeding
- problems with breathing
- loss of consciousness.
Use the Service Finder on the healthdirect website to find an emergency department close to you.
Non-life-threatening medical issues needing urgent medical help
Urgent care services provide bulk billed care for non-life threatening illnesses and injuries. They may be known as any of the following:
- Medicare Urgent Care Clinic
- Urgent Care Service
- Urgent Care Clinic
- Satellite Health Service or Satellite Hospital
- Walk-in Clinic.
Find out when to visit a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website.
You don’t need an appointment to go to an urgent care service, but you’ll need your Medicare card. Find your nearest urgent care service using the Service Finder on the healthdirect website.
You can use a digital copy of your Medicare card in your myGov app wallet. Learn how to access your digital Medicare card on the Services Australia website.
Sick or injured and your GP is closed
You can still get help if you’re unwell and your usual doctor or health service is closed, and it isn’t an emergency.
Open doctor, pharmacy or other health service
Use the Service Finder on the healthdirect website to find an open doctor, pharmacy or other health service near you.
Call 1800MEDICARE
If you’re not sure what to do, you can call 1800MEDICARE (1800 633 422) for advice. It’s a free, 24/7 helpline where you can speak to a registered nurse about any health concern. You can also download the 1800MEDICARE app on the Australian Digital Health Agency website to check your symptoms or connect to the 1800MEDICARE phone service.
Rural or remote area health services
Living in rural and remote areas can sometimes mean that health services may be harder to access. Knowing which health services are available in your area will help you prepare for when you need them. Find out what types of health services are available in remote areas on the healthdirect website.
Nursing posts
Nursing posts, also known as nurse-led clinics are health centres staffed by highly skilled registered nurses or nurse practitioners in remote areas. Find out about nursing posts on the healthdirect website.
Be prepared for a medical emergency
There are resources to help you and your family prepare for a medical emergency.