sharon sanders
Editor-in-Chief & President
NSW Health Minister encourages people to use urgent care clinics
Program:Radio National Breakfast
Tue 4 Aug 2026 at 4:00pm
The New South Wales government is urging Sydney residents to stay away from hospital emergency departments - unless they have a life-threatening medical condition.
The public appeal followed a busy Monday for the state's health system, with more than 4,000 ambulance call-outs and almost 10,000 ER presentations - making it the biggest Winter day ever recorded.
more... https://www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...s-people-to-try-urgent-care-clinics/106992478
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It comes as NSW Premier Chris Minns warned the state’s emergency services were bracing for the “worst three weeks of the year”.
He urged patients to, if possible, avoid the hospital.
“To the extent that you can go to an urgent care clinic or see your GP … if it’s not life-threatening, we genuinely suggest that you do that, so the doctors can focus and nurses can focus their efforts and attention on people that are about to die,” he said.
Just under 10,000 people presented to Sydney EDs on Monday – a winter day record, according to Mr Park.
About 4100 ambulance call-outs were also reported.
https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/h...s/news-story/3111986813a43ad2d14110cf6f423887
Program:Radio National Breakfast
Tue 4 Aug 2026 at 4:00pm
The New South Wales government is urging Sydney residents to stay away from hospital emergency departments - unless they have a life-threatening medical condition.
The public appeal followed a busy Monday for the state's health system, with more than 4,000 ambulance call-outs and almost 10,000 ER presentations - making it the biggest Winter day ever recorded.
more... https://www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...s-people-to-try-urgent-care-clinics/106992478
--------------------------------------------------------
snip
It comes as NSW Premier Chris Minns warned the state’s emergency services were bracing for the “worst three weeks of the year”.
He urged patients to, if possible, avoid the hospital.
“To the extent that you can go to an urgent care clinic or see your GP … if it’s not life-threatening, we genuinely suggest that you do that, so the doctors can focus and nurses can focus their efforts and attention on people that are about to die,” he said.
Just under 10,000 people presented to Sydney EDs on Monday – a winter day record, according to Mr Park.
About 4100 ambulance call-outs were also reported.
https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/h...s/news-story/3111986813a43ad2d14110cf6f423887