We would like to remind the community and visitors to the area that between the hours of 9pm and 7am, the doctor on call will only be attending overnight patients in Urgent Care who have serious / life threatening emergencies. However, in an emergency always call for an ambulance on 000.

As is the case in all small rural hospitals in Victoria, the Foster Hospital does not have a government funded Accident and Emergency Department with Resident Medical Officers.

Nursing staff will continue to assess patients on arrival at the Hospital. In many instances, nurses are able to competently treat or refer patients with minor issues without the need for doctor attendance. A doctor will be called if the patient requires emergency medical care.

Where the matter is not of a serious / life threatening nature, patients will be advised to either attend a regional hospital with a funded and medically staffed Emergency Department (La Trobe Regional Health in Traralgon or Bass Coast Health in Wonthaggi) or alternatively see a local GP when the clinic opens. A telehealth consultation with a doctor in the emergency department at Latrobe regional Hospital can also be arranged for non-urgent cases if required.

The clinic will keep “on the day appointments” for these cases. Community members are encouraged to attend during clinic hours where possible to avoid the need to travel for minor illnesses / injuries overnight.

Telephone advice is available from the GP After-Hours Helpline on 1800 022 222 between 6pm and 8am and through the Nurse On Call service available on 1300 60 60 24