What is a walk in medical centre?

Walk in medical centres have been a crucial part of Australia's health care system for many decades.

They were set up with the specific intent of providing very focused care, normally free, for minor injuries and illnesses, with the hope was that this would relieve pressure on general practitioners, and on hospital emergency departments.

Walk in medical centres are normally staffed by nurses, often referred to as nurse practitioners and advanced practice nurses. They will have received special extensive training, allowing them to offer care in a wide range of different treatments. These centres do not normally have any GPs present on site.

Effects of COVID

With the onset of COVID, much of this has temporarily changed. Most walk in clinics have closed the walk in element, and instead instigated a system of people ringing up to discuss the issue on the phone first. They will then be triaged, and if appropriate a face to face appointment would be arranged.

As different areas of Australia reacts differently to favoured rates, some walk in medical centres have now re-opened as walk ins, but that could easily change at short notice, depending upon infection rates in the area.

Services Offered

A walk-in medical clinic normally has very specific criteria as to what it will treat, and what it will refer elsewhere. Normally the centre will advise people to visit their GP if they have a complex health condition. Also most centres will not treat children under the age of two, and again these are referred to a GP.

In the event of an emergency, people are advised to call 000, or to call the Healthdirect helpline, if they need more general advice.

Most centres are located in community health centres, and are usually open from early morning around 7.00/7.30 am through till late evening, often 10.00/10.30 pm.

The services offered by centres will vary from state to state, but generally tend to offer help in the following areas of health. Things that will be treated normally include colds and flu, skin conditions, ear infections, UTI's, cuts and bruises, minor burns, minor infections, and wounds.

Most walk in centres will have some facilities for minor surgery, and surgical related procedures. These can include the removal of stitches, wound dressings, plastering and sprinting, ear wax removal, and injections for things like tetanus.

Sexual Health Clinics

Some walk in medical clinics offer some type of sexual health services, ranging from things like treating certain sexually transmitted diseases, or preventative measures such as contraception advice, or advice on sexual health generally.

In addition, there are a number of specific sexual health clinics, which cover the whole range of testing and treatment for all types of STD's. These clinics are by their very nature aware of the sensitivity of the work they do, and would normally operate on a walk in basis whenever possible.

As a result of COVID, many sexual health clinics are now operating in a similar way to normal walk in centres, and are advising people to ring in first, speak to a nurse, and make an appointment.

Although many clinics now operate an appointment system, this is intended to be a temporary measure only, dictated by and responding to the effect of the pandemic. Most clinics will still offer same day appointments, and some will offer telehealth options as well. Find a medical centre near you today.