After-hours medical care in Armidale

Know when to call 000

Do not try to drive long distances with a possible emergency. Call 000 and ask for an ambulance for chest pain that is severe, worsening or has lasted 10 minutes, for serious trouble breathing, and for signs of a stroke, even if those signs fade.

Start with a phone call

In a regional area, a call can save a wasted trip. Healthdirect's registered nurses are available on 1800 022 222 at any hour. They can advise whether to manage at home, see a GP or go to an emergency department, and may offer a call back or video call from a GP.

Armidale is in the New England part of the Hunter New England and Central Coast PHN region, a Primary Health Network area covering around 130,000 square kilometres. The local after-hours programs described on the PHN's page are in the Hunter and on the Central Coast, so do not assume they reach New England.

Places to look

Check that a service is open before you set out, as hours can be limited and travel times in regional areas can be long.

• The healthdirect Service Finder lists GPs and pharmacies that are open now.
• The Department of Health's map shows whether a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is within reasonable reach.
• NSW Urgent Care Services provide short-term care in person or by phone or video. Ask the nurse what applies to your location.
• The hospital emergency department is the place to go for serious illness or injury.

If it can wait

Non-urgent concerns, such as a repeat script or a stable long-term condition, can wait for your GP. If symptoms become worse overnight, call the helpline again, or call 000 if it becomes an emergency. Healthdirect says most after-hours clinicians charge a fee and Medicare may cover part of it, so ask about costs when you book.