North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) will close at 5pm, Tuesday, 24 December 2024 and reopen at 9am, Thursday, 2 January 2025.
Some of our programs and services will operate at reduced capacity during this period. Please read this important information for primary care providers.
Urgent care options
Urgent care clinics (UCCs)
Refer to the Better Health Channel website for clinic locations and opening hours over the holiday period.
UCCs partner with nearby hospital emergency departments. They provide free treatment for urgent but not life-threatening conditions such as mild infections, fractures and burns. Care is available to anyone with or without a Medicare card, at no cost to the patient. (Costs may be required for imaging, pathology and other services.)
If visiting a UCC is not an option, you may consider one of these alternatives:
Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED)
The Victorian Virtual Emergency Department operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week across the holiday period.
Visit vved.org.au to use this service.
Contacting the VVED through its website connects you to doctors and nurses trained to assist you.
NURSE-ON-CALL
NURSE-ON-CALL operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the holiday period.
The service puts patients directly in touch with a registered nurse. It is for non-emergency health advice only.
Call 1300 60 60 24.
HealthPathways Melbourne
The HealthPathways website will remain available over the holiday period to assist health professionals at the point of care.
However, the support team will be unable to respond to queries or access requests from 12pm, 24 December 2024 to 1 January 2025.
NWMPHN mental health services
CAREinMIND™
NWMPHN’s referral and access team will continue to process CAREinMIND referrals on business days, except for the Wednesday 25 and Thursday, 26 December and Wednesday, 1 January public holidays.
The team can be reached on 03 9088 4277 between 9am and 5pm. Processing may take a little longer than usual over this period.
Head to Health
The Head to Health intake team will be available Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm (except on the Wednesday, 25 and Thursday, 26 December and Wednesday, 1 January public holidays) to connect people with the right mental health support.
Call 1800 595 212 or visit headtohealth.gov.au
Other mental health support options over the holidays
If you or someone with you know needs immediate help – or are at risk of self-harm or harm to others, call 000.
Health professionals can use the mental health pages on HealthPathways Melbourne to find clinical and referral information at the point of care.
Other services available during the holiday period are:
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
- Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
- Mensline: 1300 789 978
- eheadspace (12-15 year-olds):- eheadspace.org.au or 1800 650 890
- CAREinMIND Wellbeing Support Service: careinmind.com.au or 1300 096 269
- Yarning SafeNStrong: 1800 959 563
- QLife: 1800 184 527
