You are the best person to be in charge of your own health.
Taking charge of your health is the first step in making more informed decisions, both on your own and with your health providers about your health and healthcare.
At South Western Sydney PHN we are committed to empowering our community and their families with the tools they need to make more informed health decisions.
A GP or after hours medical service should be your first point of contact for medical assistance, not the hospital emergency department (ED) unless you have a life-threatening emergency.
An emergency department is there to treat people with life threatening needs. Even with minor ailments, you won’t be refused care at the ED but if you have a less severe illness or injury you will have to wait longer, typically 3-5 hours.
Going to your own doctor or using other medical services after hours takes pressure off the ED and allows staff to care for people who may be critically injured or have a life-threatening condition.
In South Western Sydney, if you call an ambulance you may not automatically be taken to the ED and you could be treated by your own GP. Under the NSW Ambulance Low Acuity Project, paramedics are trained to assess a patient’s condition and have them treated in the most appropriate setting.