Feeling Unwell After - 5 PM? Your Expert GP's Guide to After-Hours Care in Adelaide

Key Takeaways

• Emergency? Call 000. For instance, in cases of chest pain, breathing difficulties, or stroke signs, do not hesitate to call 000.
• Urgent Injury? Go to a UCC. A place like the Adelaide Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is where you want to be if you suffer from sprains, cuts, or minor fractures. It is a walk-in and bulk-billed.
• Urgent Sickness? Use telehealth. In cases of fever, gastro, rashes, or when you need quick medical advice, a bulk-billed telehealth GP is your fastest, most convenient option from home.
• Unwell & Immobile? Call a home visit. A bulk-billed home-visiting doctor can come to you if you are housebound.
• In Doubt? Call Healthdirect. The 24/7 nurse-on-call (1800 022 222) is a free service and will give you exact instructions on what to do.
• Follow Up: After visiting any after-hours facility, always make sure to see your regular GP for continuity of care

The Feeling of "What Do I Do Now?"

It is Tuesday at 8:00 PM, and your regular GP's clinic is already closed. Worry, that familiar, sinking feeling, takes its place in your heart. Your kid has a fever and woke up in the middle of the night, or you went for a run late at night, and you have just seriously twisted your ankle. Your first thought is "What do I do now?"

As a General Practitioner (GP) in Australia, I hear this story all the time. My patients often ask me, "Doctor, what should I have done?" When you or a loved one is sick or in pain, the last thing you need is confusion. The good news is that you have excellent options for after-hours care in Adelaide, even in the middle of the night.

This guide is intended to be your calm and clear plan. We will walk you through exactly how to decide what to do, who to call, and where to go to get the proper care at the right time.

Let's consider a typical case. Sarah from Paralowie, for instance. Her four-year-old Leo cries out, wakes up with a high fever, and develops a strange, barking cough. Her local clinic is closed. The first thing that comes to her mind is the hospital Emergency Department (ED), but she's worried about the long wait and whether it's 'serious enough.' This guide is for Sarah and anyone in Adelaide who has ever experienced the uncertainty of after-hours.

The Most Important Question: When to Call 000

We must be very clear about the distinction between a real, life-threatening emergency and any other service before discussing any other service. In situations where every minute counts, your only call should be to Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance.

If you make a non-emergency call to 000, the ambulance that would otherwise be sent to a life-threatening situation may take longer to arrive. But if you are in doubt or the problem is worsening rapidly, you should always give a call.

At the time, you can call us for an emergency GP service that will tend to non-life-threatening matters.

Call 000 Immediately - Examples of a Life-Threatening Emergency:

The following list comprises the most obvious signs that indicate the need for immediate emergency help. In case you or the people with you face any of these situations, call 000 without any delay:

• Chest pain, pressure, or tightness: It can feel like a heavy weight, squeezing, or fullness in the chest.
• Difficulty breathing: It includes shortness of breath, difficulty speaking in complete sentences, and noisy, strained breathing.
• Sudden collapse, unexplained fall, or loss of consciousness (fainting).
• Uncontrollable bleeding that does not stop with pressure.
• Fits or seizures, especially when it is the first seizure, or it lasts more than a few minutes.
• Severe burns: These can be large and deep, and may involve the face, hands, or airways.
• Any symptoms of a stroke: This is extremely important. The F.A.S.T. test can easily remember the signs:
• Face: Has the face drooped on one side?
• Arms: Can both arms be lifted, or does one arm drift down?
• Speech: Is their speech slurred? Are they confused or unable to understand you?
• Time: Time is of the essence. If you see any of these signs, call 000 immediately.
• A fall from a great height, a serious car accident, or other severe trauma or injury.

My professional advice is simple: If it feels like a life-or-death emergency, treat it as one. Call 000.

Is it Urgent, or Can it Wait? Understanding the 'In-Between' Zone

We have now reached the most common point of confusion the 'in-between' zone. The health issue here is urgent enough to require a visit to a GP the following day, but not a life-threatening 000 emergency.

It is formally recognised as "after-hours care."

After-hours care means primary health care accessed outside your GP's regular working hours. It is for medical needs that should be treated within 2 to 12 hours.

The problem Sarah from Paralowie is having is just the same as this. Her son's barking cough is concerning and needs a doctor's opinion tonight, but he's not struggling to breathe, so it's not a 000 call. This is an urgent issue.

Why You Shouldn't Take a Sprained Ankle to the ED

Most people in this situation choose to go to the only place they know is open 24/7, the hospital Emergency Department (ED). However, it is critical to understand how ED wait times operate.

Once you arrive at an ED, your turn for examination is not based on the time of arrival. You are seen in order of how sick you are. This is a procedure called 'triage'. For instance, if you present with chest pain, you will be seen immediately. Conversely, if you come in with a sprained ankle, you will be seen after all the patients with heart attacks, stroke, severe breathing problems, and trauma, i.e., those who require urgent care.

This is not "blaming" the patients; rather, it is a sign that people are unaware of, or do not have access to, better alternatives. Our EDs across Australia are dealing with an overwhelming number of 9.0 million presentations annually. However, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, many of these visits are for non-emergency cases. Approximately 35% of all ED presentations in 2023-24 were triaged as 'Semi-urgent' (such as possible fracture), and 6.6% were 'Non-urgent' (like a rash or prescription repeat).

What is the implication of this for you? If you go to the ED with an urgent (but not life-threatening) issue such as a bad urinary tract infection (UTI) or a sprained ankle, you will be put on a waiting list, probably for a long time. Your time will be spent in the crowded waiting room, while our critical hospital resources will be stretched.

This is precisely why the health care system has developed new, better options to bridge this "gap".

Your 3 Main After-Hours Options in Adelaide

So, Leo, Sarah's son, had a barking cough, which was 'urgent' but not a '000-emergency.' She did not need the ED; however, she did require medical advice that night.

She has three great options in Adelaide that are quicker, more suitable, and help in keeping our EDs available for real emergencies.

Option 1: Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (UCCs)

This is one of the finest and most recent solutions in Australian healthcare, and Adelaide boasts an excellent network of them.

What is a Medicare UCC?

Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (UCCs) are part of the government initiative that aims to bridge the "gap" we discussed precisely. These are GP-led clinics prepared to take urgent, in-person issues that cannot wait for your GP but do not require an ED visit.

They have extended opening hours 7 days a week, which is their main advantage. Moreover, they offer walk-in service; no appointment or referral is needed. You can just show up.

What can they treat?

UCCs are ideal for

• Minor infections (e.g., UTIs, ear infections, mild respiratory illnesses)
• Small burns
• Minor fractures, sprains, and back pain
• Gastroenteritis (vomiting and diarrhoea)
• Cuts and lacerations that might need stitches

The Best Part: Cost

This brings tremendous relief to many families. As the national surveys show, approximately 8.8% of Australians have delayed or avoided seeing a GP due to the cost.

For any Australian holding a valid Medicare card, a visit to any of these Medicare UCCs is bulk-billed.

That is, you pay $0. There is no out-of-pocket cost for the consultation.

Where to Find Your Nearest UCC in Adelaide

These specialised Medicare UCCs are available throughout Adelaide and are supported by SA Health and the Adelaide Primary Health Network (PHN). Although it is always smart to check their website or call to confirm the current holiday hours, these are your closest walk-in clinics. It is worth noting that these differ from SA Health's Priority Care Centres, which function alongside hospital emergency departments to treat non-life-threatening conditions.

The government is also in the process of setting up a new clinic in the Norwood area, so this network is only getting stronger.

It is worth noting that these differ from SA Health's "Urgent Care Hubs," which are available only by referral. You can walk directly into the Medicare UCCs listed in the table above.

Option 2: After-Hours Telehealth GPs

This choice is like having the doctor right in your living room, and it is a tremendously potent tool when used for the correct problems.

What is a Telehealth GP?

Here, you interact with a fully qualified, Australian-registered GP via a secure video or phone call from your home. This is now an essential part of our national primary care system. Actually, the national health direct helpline (1800 022 222) that people call when they urgently need a doctor usually connects the patient to an after-hours GP by phone or video.

For instance, services like 13cure are part of this network, offering on-demand doctor access when your regular clinic is closed. You can arrange an after-hours doctor appointment by calling 13CURE (13 2873).

What can a Telehealth GP do?

Telehealth is ideal for most illness cases when

• Colds, flu, and fevers
• Respiratory illnesses (coughs, sore throats)
• Vomiting and diarrhoea (gastro)
• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
• Skin rashes
• Issuing medical certificates for a sudden illness
• Providing advice on prescriptions

Another essential function of a telehealth GP is to serve as your first, rapid point of contact. This is what they term "triage-from-your-lounge-room." We can examine you or your child, ask essential questions, and even check a rash or a throat through video consultation. After that, we can offer you the right help: reassure you, send a script to your pharmacy (if a script is issued in your case), or tell you whether it's something you can manage at home or if an in-person checkup would be safer. It gives you a brief, safe plan in a couple of minutes.

How do I book, and what does it cost?

The procedure is not complicated. Hospitals (such as 13cure.com.au) enable you to make a reservation online or by phone, and a doctor is often in touch with you very soon.

As with UCCs, most after-hours telehealth provisions are bulk-billed for patients eligible for Medicare. In other words, you have to bear no out-of-pocket cost if you want to get a doctor's advice right from your home. This is essential to alleviate the cost barrier to timely care. Always check the provider's site for their bulk billing policy.

Option 3: Home-Visiting Doctors (Medical Deputising Services)

Home-Visiting Doctors is the third option that has been a lifesaver for Australian families for many years.

What is a home-visiting doctor?

Such are GPs who operate only during the after-hours period and will physically come to your place to provide urgent care. Our home doctor service covers central suburbs across Adelaide, ensuring you are never far from help.

You might hear them referred to as "medical deputising services." In simple terms, this means that they "deputise" for (or are "filling in for") your regular GP who is closed."

Booking and Costs in Adelaide

This service is for people who are not well enough to travel. Usually, you would call a certain number (like 13CURE on 13 2873) or book through our website or app.

They work during the defined after-hours period, usually from 6 PM on weeknights, from 12 PM on Saturdays, and all day on Sundays and public holidays.

Similar to telehealth, these home-visiting services are often bulk-billed for patients holding a valid Medicare card. Several services are on offer in Adelaide: 'Call the Doctor' at 13CURE (13 2873).

How to Decide? A Simple GP's Guide to the Right Door

Thus, you have three excellent choices. How to pick the "right door" for your issue is my advice:

• If you require a physical, hands-on assessment of an injury, head to a Medicare UCC. For example, scenarios like "I need stitches," I have severely sprained my ankle," or "I have burnt my hand and need medical care" are pertinent.
• Feeling unwell and stuck at home? Maybe your kid has a fever or a bad cough, or you've noticed a painful rash that's freaking you out a little. A Telehealth GP makes it easy to get medical advice without leaving your couch. It's quick, comfy and keeps you safe indoors.
• If you can't leave the house because of severe vomiting, a high fever, or feeling too weak to move around, a home-visiting doctor can be a solid option. It also helps when you're caring for an elderly or immobile family member, and you need someone to check on their health right where they are.

Case Study (Conclusion)

Let's check back on Sarah and Leo from Paralowie. Sarah is scared to take her son out in the cold night of Adelaide and wait in a room when Leo's barking cough sounds like croup.

She decides to go with a Telehealth GP. Booking is done online, and within 30 minutes, she is on a secure video call with a doctor. The GP hears the cough, observes the chest for breathing effort, and counts the breathing rate. The doctor reassures Sarah that it's a mild case, teaches her how to manage it (e.g., with a hot shower), and gives her specific hospital "red flag" symptoms that would require a visit (e.g., noisy breathing when resting).

Sarah feels relieved. She has escaped a potential 4-hour hospital visit, and Leo is calm in his own bed. Sarah's regular GP clinic in Paralowie will receive, with Sarah's consent, a secure fax of the consultation summary from the telehealth service.

The Most Important Relationship: Your Regular GP & Continuity of Care

This is my last and most crucial point. After-hours services are for urgent, one-off problems. They cannot be substituted for your regular family GP.

Your regular GP is your "medical home." They know you, your complete medical history, your family, and your medications. They are the only ones who should be overseeing your long-term conditions (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure, mental health plans) and providing the preventive measures you need (e.g., health checks, vaccinations).

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), my professional college, is very explicit on this: after-hours services should support your regular GP, not replace them.

This is why a quality after-hours service, whether it is a UCC, a telehealth doctor, or a home visit, will have a formal procedure, with your consent, to send a secure summary of your consultation to your regular GP.

This guarantees continuity of care. It means that when you follow up with your family doctor, they are aware of the exact events, the advice given to you, and whether you have been prescribed any new medication. It is the safest and most efficient method of health management. That is why telehealth that is not connected to your regular GP is considered not best practice.

Your Quick-Find Adelaide After-Hours Toolkit

Here is a simple list to keep or take a screenshot of, so you have it when necessary.

• For Emergencies (Call 000): If it is a matter of life and death (e.g., chest pain, breathing trouble, stroke), do not hesitate to call.
• For 24/7 Nurse Advice (Call 1800 022 222): The free healthdirect helpline. A registered nurse can give you advice and direct you to exemplary service.
• To Find a Local Service (Online Tool): Use the healthdirect. You may filter the results by "bulk billing" and "urgent care".
• For In-Person Urgent Care (Walk-in): Your local Adelaide Medicare UCC (see our table above).
• For At-Home Urgent Care (Telehealth): Schedule a bulk-billed video or phone call with a GP (for instance, 13cure).
• For At-Home Care (Immobile): Contact a home-visiting doctor service.