Three questions to ask first
Is this life-threatening? Call 000 and ask for an ambulance. Healthdirect lists chest pain that is severe, getting worse or has lasted 10 minutes, severe trouble breathing, and signs of a stroke, even if they pass.
Does it need care today but is not life-threatening? Phone a nurse advice line, or use an official finder to look for a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic or an open after-hours service.
Can it safely wait? Book with your usual GP when the practice reopens. If you are unsure, a nurse on the helpline can help you decide.
Official places to look
Opening hours and services change, so we do not list individual clinics. These official tools are kept up to date by the organisations that run them.
- The healthdirect Service Finder lists health services near you, including open-late pharmacies and Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.
- The Department of Health's map shows Medicare Urgent Care Clinics. Check a clinic's hours before you travel.
- Hospital emergency departments are for serious and life-threatening problems.
If you need someone to talk to
Lifeline offers 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14. 13YARN offers crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on 13 92 76, 24 hours a day. If someone is in immediate danger, call 000.
Further reading
- healthdirect, After-hours health services: healthdirect.gov.au/after-hours-health-services
- healthdirect Service Finder: healthdirect.gov.au/australian-health-services
- Department of Health, Find your nearest Medicare Urgent Care Clinic: health.gov.au/find-a-medicare-ucc
- Queensland Government, 13 HEALTH: qld.gov.au/health/contacts/advice/13health
- Lifeline crisis support: lifeline.org.au/get-help/services/crisis-support
- 13YARN: 13yarn.org.au