Whether it's a cooking accident, the flu, STIs, or a chronic condition flaring up - familiarising yourself with Canberra's public health services can be the stitch (in time) that saves you nine.
For some time now, the territory has grappled with bulk-billing (free services), shortage of GPs and reducing pressure on emergency departments.
To avoid the hospital in cases where you would usually visit your regular doctor or a specialist, the ACT has two types of public health hubs spread across suburbs: walk-in centres and community health centres.
Walk-in centres have free services
The ACT's walk-in centres are open to the public regardless of citizenship status and age (although children need to be more than 12 months old).
The free clinics are funded by Medicare under the national network of urgent care clinics.
Take note of the name because the service should only be used in cases of minor, non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses.
Unlike other states and territories that have doctors at some of these clinics, Canberra's walk-in centres are operated by nurses only.
As the name suggests, appointments are not required for treatment at a walk-in centre, which are open every day between 7.30am and 10pm.
There are five such walk-in centres, in Tuggeranong, Weston Creek, Dickson, Belconnen, and Gungahlin. Wait times for all the centres are updated in real time on this website.
Canberra Health Services say the clinics' scope of care was very similar to a GP-led clinic and stated the following examples of urgent care available:
- bites and stings
- common colds and influenza (you should have a RAT test first)
- conjunctivitis
- cuts, abrasions, bruises, burns
- sinusitis, tonsillitis, middle and outer ear infections
- ear wax removal
- emergency contraception
- fractures
- infections
- school sores
- simple gastroenteritis
- skin conditions
- sick certificates
- simple limb injuries
- Tetanus boosters if needed when you have an injury
- urinary tract infections
Is any of the above likely to change in the future?
A spokesperson said the government intended to widen the scope of care at the Weston Creek centre by adding physiotherapy, "subject to recruitment and availability".
He also said recently added services included "expansion of services for one-year-olds" and treatment of men's urinary tract infections.
When to go to the hospital instead
Emergency care must be sought when people have severe breathing difficulties, severe chest pains, severe allergic reactions, blood loss, head injuries or lose consciousness, an ACT government spokesperson said.
Canberra's Community Health Centres
Unlike care provided at walk-in centres, community health centres support and help people to manage chronic health conditions.
Canberra has seven community health centres, in the city area, Belconnen, Gungahlin, Dickson, Weston Creek, Tuggeranong and Phillip,
Appointments are required to visit these centres.
Some services are also available at Kambah's Village Creek Centre and at the Canberra Health Services building at Molonglo, in Coombs.
The government spokesperson said services provided at health centres were typically free, but there were costs associated with some services and consumables.
These included dental treatments, dentures, orthotics, nail surgery, therabands, putty and walking sticks.
Centres cater to people with reproductive health needs and recurring conditions
Patients at the centre tend to be people who need regular treatments, those who have recently been discharged and need follow up care, and pregnant people who require prenatal and antenatal care.
"Generally, patients who attend these centres are non-urgent and are either referred or can self-refer depending on the service. A Medicare or pension/health care card is required for most services," the government spokesperson said.
He said services available at each of the centres differed depending on the specific needs of each region.
Each centre is staffed by a range of health professionals, including nurses and allied health professionals - physiotherapists, podiatrists, dietitians and alcohol and drug counsellors.
For example, services at the Molonglo centre include pregnancy care and support and maternal and child health.
"This is to accommodate a growing population in Molonglo and the high number of young families in the area," the spokesperson said.
"Services at the South Tuggeranong Health Centre will include a diabetes clinic and falls prevention. These services recognise the needs of the demographic in South Tuggeranong."
Belconnen Community Health Centre
- Physiotherapy
- GLAD (Good Life with osteoArthritis) Program
- Take Control - Live Well Program
- ACT Pathology
- BreastScreen ACT
- Children's Audiometry
- Adult Mental Health
- Podiatry
- Dialysis
- Community Nursing
- Community Paediatric and Child Health
- Dental
- Diabetes
- Maternal and Child Health
- Child and Adolescent Immunisation Team
- Nutrition
- Bariatric Medicine
- Cancer Counselling
- Renal Services
- Social Work
- Women's Health
- Community Rehabilitation
- Child Adolescent Mental Health Services
- Spinal Pain
- Lymphoedema Service
- The Belconnen Walk-in Centre is also co-located with the Belconnen Community Health Centre.
Gungahlin Community Health Centre
- Take Control - Live Well Program
- Mental Health Services for People with Intellectual Disability
- Adult Mental Health
- Dental
- ACT Pathology
- Child and Adolescent Immunisation
- Lymphoedema Service
- Paediatric and Adult Diabetes
- Maternal and Child Health
- Nutrition
- Orthoptist
- Physiotherapy
- Podiatry
- Social Work
- Alcohol and Drug Services
- Women's Health
- Asthma Service
- The Gungahlin Walk-in Centre is also co-located with the Belconnen Community Health Centre.
City Community Health Centre
- BreastScreen ACT
- Forensic Mental Health
- Alcohol and Drug Services
- Dental
- Women's Health Service
- Adult Mental Health
- Community Nursing
- School Services Team
Tuggeranong Community Health Centre
- Take Control - Live Well Program
- Community Nursing
- Stoma Care
- Continence Services
- Podiatry
- Physiotherapy Clinic/Groups and students
- Women, Youth and Children Physiotherapy
- Maternal and Child Health
- Child and Adolescent Immunisation
- Nutrition
- Adult Mental Health
- Alcohol and Drug Services
- Diabetes Educator/Dietitian/Gestation & Groups
- Social Work
- Women, Youth and Children Social Work
- Asthma
- Falls and Falls Injury Prevention
- Lymphoedema Service
- ACT Pathology
- Dental
- Dialysis
- The Tuggeranong Walk-in Centre is also co-located with the Tuggeranong Community Health Centre.
Inner North (Dickson) Community Health Centre
- Maternal and Child Health
- Child and Adolescent Immunisation
- Community Nursing
- The Inner North (Dickson) Walk-In Centre is also co-located with the Dickson Community Health Centre.
Phillip Community Health Centre
- GLAD (Good Life with osteoArthritis) Program
- Take Control - Live Well Program
- Podiatry
- Community Nursing
- Wound Care
- Physiotherapy
- Maternal and Child Health
- Antenatal Midwifery Clinic
- Adult Mental Health
- Eating Disorders Program
- Cancer Counselling service
- Maternity Care Clinics
- Nutrition
- Stoma Care
- Women Health Services
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Cultural Specialist Service Dental
- BreastScreen ACT
- Falls and Falls Injury Prevention
Weston Creek Community Health Centre
- Community Nursing
- Continence Services
- Wound Clinic
- Antenatal Midwifery Clinics
- Maternal and Child Health
- Women, Youth and Children Nutrition
- School Kids Intervention Program (SKIP)
- ACT Pathology
- The Weston Creek Walk-in Centre and Weston Creek Medical Imaging is also co-located with the Weston Creek Community Health Centre.
Village Creek Centre (Kambah)
- Prosthetics and Orthotics
- Clinical Technology Workshop
- Domiciliary Oxygen and Respiratory Support Scheme
- ACT Equipment Scheme
- ACT Equipment Loan Service
- Community Care Occupational Therapy
Canberra Health Services at Molonglo
- Antenatal Midwifery Clinics
- Maternal and Child Health
- Continuity Midwifery clinics
- Genetic Counselling
- Paediatric Asthma
- Community Paediatric Service
- Child and Adolescent Immunisation
More community health centres are scheduled to open in south and north Canberra.
"The new South Tuggeranong Health Centre, expected to be completed by the end of 2025," the government spokesperson said.
"Services to be available at the new North Gungahlin and Inner South Health Centres will be subject to community and clinician consultations."
