Urgent care, when it’s not an emergency
Avoid waiting in an emergency department. Ballarat’s Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) provides medical care when it’s urgent but not an emergency. The centre is staffed by a team of GPs and nurses to provide urgent medical care for non life-threatening injuries or illnesses. Medical staff will assess you when you arrive and we will ensure you receive appropriate care. If you need specialist attention we will help you get to a nearby emergency department. Care is available for everyone, with or without a Medicare card. Your treatment is free. Translators are also available.
The UCC is not a substitute for your usual general practice clinic. If you require a normal GP consultation, including for repeat prescriptions, you will need to contact your regular GP.
Please note that Ballarat’s Medicare UCC moved on Monday, November 18, 2024.
Our new location is just a short walk from the hospital precinct and conveniently located above the Sturt Street West UFS Pharmacy. Our address is Level 1, 1010 Sturt Street, Ballarat.
Our standard opening hours are 9am to 11pm every day of the year.
Please note that occasionally circumstances arise that will impact these opening hours. We recommend you check this webpage for notifications regarding changes to opening hours before attending the clinic.
We also have a surge protocol in place, which may impact opening hours. Please scroll to the bottom of this page for a full explanation of the UCC surge protocol.
Phone (03) 4320 0820 for more information.
Click each tab below to check which conditions we are able to treat at the UCC, or which conditions require emergency care or the care of your GP.
We provide urgent care for injuries and illnesses including:
- mild to moderate infections
- fever
- pain when urinating
- suspected fractures and sprains
- severe back and muscle pain
- minor cuts, burns, and insect or animal bites
- heartburn, vomiting, nausea
- headaches and migraines
- constipation, diarrhoea, abdominal pain
- allergies and rashes
- mild to moderate asthma attacks, coughs and other respiratory symptoms.*
*If you have tested positive to COVID-19, please see available resources, advice and education at Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria – Better Health Channel.
Call Triple Zero (000) or visit your nearest emergency department if you or someone you know is experiencing an immediate life-threatening emergency such as:
difficulty breathing
- severe bleeding
- unconsciousness
- lips and face turning blue
- becoming agitated, confused or very drowsy
- chest pain or chest tightness
- sudden numbness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg
- large burns
- serious accidents or trauma
- extreme pain
Visit your regular GP for:
- Conditions that can wait several hours or days for medical attention
- Chronic or long standing conditions
- Routine health assessments
- Care plans
- Repeat prescriptions
Surge Protocol Disclaimer
The Ballarat Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) has a ‘surge protocol’ like many other UCCs and health services in Australia. If the number of patient presentations overwhelms the doctor and nurse model (ratio) working, which can be unsafe, or, if there are more presentations than the UCC is able to see before the scheduled closing time, the Ballarat UCC will go into ‘surge protocol’. Patients will be triaged by the triage nurse and if safe to do so, referred to another medical service, including the local emergency department(s), or will be asked to see their GP or usual healthcare provider the following day.
Prescriptions
We do not prescribe Schedule 8 medications (or benzodiazepines). The UCC GP can prescribe medication necessary to manage your urgent medical issue, but please continue to see your regular GP for routine prescriptions or chronic medications.
Feedback
If you would like to provide feedback on the UCC please go to our contact us page.