To ease pressure on our emergency departments Ballarat residents now have a second option when needing urgent, but not serious, care.
The Ballarat Priority Primary Care Centre at UFS Medical’s Windermere Street clinic begins operation today.
It’s one of 25 centres being opened in Victoria by the Andrews Labor Government in response to the demand crippling our healthcare system.
Examples of when people are asked to present to the Priority Primary Care Centre include for a fall where they may have a small fracture, a cut that needs stitches, feeling generally unwell or an infection, among other similar situations.
Assessments will be made once there on what level of treatment is required.
Operations Manager Danielle Trezise says the aim is to reduce wait times at both the centre and the hospital Emergency Department.
“The demand will be high, but we will be triaging people who come here to make sure they’re appropriate (to be treated at the centre).
There might be a short wait in our waiting space, but when you look at emergency departments where people are wating 4,5,6 hours hopefully people having options will reduce that for everybody.”
The centre will for now be open from 10am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 2pm Saturdays and public holidays with a view to have it become a 7 day a week clinic.
Image: Michaela Settle Fecabook page
