If you require medical attention for emergencies, you should always call 000.

What we do

The Urgent Care Centre (UCC) at South Gippsland Hospital provides 24-hour emergency care to residents and visitors to the region.

The UCC is staffed by General Practitioners, Nursing and Clerical staff.

SGH have radiology services provided by South Gippsland Radiology weekdays (0830 – 1700hours). Pathology services are limited onsite to ‘point of care’ testing. Pathology specimens are transported to Monash Pathology located in Wonthaggi.

The Urgent Care Centre is a public / private healthcare setting, where nurses are employed by the public hospital and the Medical Officers are either private General Practitioners (GPs) or publicly funded medical officers from the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED).

The Foster and Toora Medical Centre GPs will assess and treat the general public 24 hours/seven days per week all hours for presentations with an Australasian Triage Scale of 1, 2 and 3 (urgent) and for presentations with an Australasian Triage Scale of 4 or 5 (non-urgent) from 0800 until 1800 hours.

The Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED) will assist presentations that have a non-urgent category between 1800hours until 0800hours the next day, via telehealth.

How you access

Physical access to the Urgent Care Centre is via Jones Street.

For all patients seeking emergency care, the level of urgency is determined on arrival to the UCC. The Australasian Triage Scale (ATS) is the tool used to prioritise all patients according to clinical urgency.

Persons present via ambulance, car or on foot, and at times via referral from the Foster Medical Centre.

UCC Afterhours Form 1205

Who can use our service?

Any person in need of emergency care can access our service.

Due to our resources, patients would not normally be transported by Ambulance Victoria to us if they are in need of stroke, intensive, coronary, critical care, emergency surgery and patients with significant mental health issues.

Are there any fees?

Our UCC is not a ‘funded’ Emergency Department (ED) so you may incur costs for the General Practitioner service.

The nearest funded ED’s are at Bass Coast Health, Wonthaggi and Latrobe Regional Hospital, Traralgon.

You will not incur any cost for the VVED service.

Who do I contact?

If time permits, please call ahead to speak to the Nurse in Charge on 5683 9777.

Ambulance Victoria will generally contact the UCC if transporting a person for assessment.

What to bring

Medicare card, Healthcare card, usual medications.