Quick links:
When illness or injury strikes suddenly, knowing where to go for help is not always straightforward. A child falls and hurts their arm. A cut looks deeper than expected. Pain appears quickly and needs urgent care now, not in a week when a GP appointment becomes available.
For many people in Western Australia, the decision often comes down to urgent care or an emergency Department. The confusion is understandable. Both treat injuries and illnesses that cannot wait, but they exist for different reasons and handle different levels of severity.
Urgent care services have become an important part of the WA health system because they fill the gap between general practice clinics and hospital emergency departments. Providers such as St John WA play a key role in delivering timely, accessible urgent care across Perth, helping people get the right care without unnecessary hospital visits.
Understanding the difference before you need it can make stressful situations feel more manageable and help you act quickly with confidence.
Urgent care centres provide medical treatment for illnesses and injuries that need prompt attention but are not life-threatening. They are designed to treat conditions that cannot wait for a GP appointment but do not require the full resources of an Emergency Department.
Urgent care centres are typically staffed by experienced doctors and nurses and may offer on-site services such as X-rays, wound care, plastering and minor procedures. They operate as walk-in clinics, meaning appointments are not required.
In Western Australia, St John is a well-established provider of urgent care services, delivering care that is timely, clinically appropriate and focused on reducing pressure on hospital Emergency Departments.
Urgent care is designed for medical issues that need prompt attention but are not life-threatening. These are situations where waiting days for a GP appointment may lead to unnecessary discomfort or complications, but where hospital Emergency care is not required.
Urgent care is often the right choice for:
- Sprains and suspected minor fractures, such as injuries from falls, sports or accidents where pain, swelling or reduced movement needs assessment and imaging.
- Cuts or wounds that may require stitches, particularly if bleeding cannot be controlled at home or the wound is deep or gaping.
- Sports injuries, including soft tissue injuries, joint pain or swelling that need timely assessment to prevent further damage.
- Minor burns or scalds, where the skin is damaged but the burn is not severe enough to require Emergency Department treatment.
- Eye or ear issues, such as foreign objects, sudden pain, infections or changes in hearing or vision that need prompt evaluation.
- Bites and stings, including insect or animal bites that cause swelling, pain, redness or signs of infection.
- Sudden but non-severe illness, such as infections, fevers, or symptoms that appear quickly and require medical review but are not escalating or life-threatening.
One of the key benefits of urgent care is convenience. Compared to Emergency Departments, urgent care centres typically have shorter wait times for less severe conditions, and treatment can often be completed in a single visit. This allows patients to receive timely care while helping keep Emergency Departments available for critical and life-threatening cases.
Emergency Departments are designed to treat serious and life-threatening conditions. If symptoms are severe, rapidly worsening, or potentially dangerous, Emergency care is essential.
Situations that require immediate hospital attention include chest pain, difficulty breathing, heavy or uncontrolled bleeding, stroke symptoms such as facial drooping or sudden weakness, collapse or loss of consciousness, serious head, neck or spinal injuries, major burns, severe abdominal pain, or injuries from motor vehicle accidents.
Urgent care centres are not equipped to manage life-threatening emergencies. If there is any doubt about the seriousness of a condition, it is always safer to attend an Emergency Department or call Triple Zero.
St John operates several urgent care centres across the Perth metropolitan area and they are open seven days a week. These centres are designed to provide accessible care close to home when unexpected health issues arise.
Up-to-date locations and opening hours can be found on the St John WA website.
HIF partners with St John Urgent Care to help members access timely urgent care services when they are needed most.
An urgent care visit is designed to be efficient and focused. On arrival, patients are triaged so that those with more pressing needs are assessed promptly. A doctor or nurse will then evaluate the condition and determine the most appropriate treatment.
Where required, diagnostic imaging such as X-rays may be available on site. Treatment can include stitching wounds, bandaging, splinting or plastering injuries, treating minor burns, or prescribing medication. Patients are also provided with clear guidance on follow-up care, including whether to see a GP or specialist.
The aim is to resolve the issue safely and quickly without the need for hospital admission.
Urgent care is not suitable for life-threatening or rapidly worsening conditions. It cannot manage major trauma, complex medical emergencies, or situations that require advanced hospital equipment or specialist teams.
It is also not intended to replace ongoing GP care for chronic or long-term health conditions.
HIF partners with St John Urgent Care to support accessible urgent care options for members. Eligible HIF members can receive no-gap urgent care consultations at participating St John Urgent Care centres, helping reduce out-of-pocket costs during stressful situations.
More information about this partnership is available via HIF’s St John Urgent Care page.
When something unexpected happens, having clarity can reduce stress and support better outcomes. Urgent care centres provide timely treatment for non-life-threatening conditions, while Emergency Departments remain essential for serious and critical situations.
With services like St John Urgent Care and support through HIF’s partnership, accessing urgent care in Perth is more straightforward and affordable for eligible members.
1. What is the difference between urgent care and an Emergency Department?
Urgent care centres treat non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries that need prompt medical attention. Emergency departments are equipped to manage serious or life-threatening conditions such as chest pain, breathing difficulties, major trauma or stroke symptoms.
2. When should I go to an Urgent Care Centre?
Urgent care is appropriate for conditions such as sprains, minor fractures, cuts requiring stitches, burns, bites and stings, eye or ear issues, sports injuries, and sudden illnesses that cannot wait for a GP appointment but are not severe.
3. When should I go to an Emergency Department or call Triple Zero (000)?
You should go to an Emergency department or call Triple Zero if symptoms are severe, rapidly worsening, or potentially life-threatening. This includes chest pain, difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding, stroke symptoms, collapse, serious head or spinal injuries, major burns, or injuries from motor vehicle accidents.
4. What services do St John Urgent Care Centres provide?
St John Urgent Care centres can assess and treat a wide range of conditions and may offer services such as X-rays, wound care, stitching, plastering, treatment of minor burns, and follow-up advice.
5. Where can I find a St John Urgent Care Centre in Perth?
St John operates several urgent care centres across the Perth metropolitan area. Locations and opening hours are available on the St John WA website.
6. How long do urgent care visits usually take?
Urgent care visits are typically shorter than Emergency Department visits for non-critical conditions. Wait times can vary depending on demand and the severity of cases being treated at the time.
7. Does urgent care cost money?
Urgent care centres generally charge a consultation fee. To support members when urgent care is needed, HIF has partnered with St John Urgent Care, allowing eligible members to access no-gap urgent care consultations at participating centres.
8. What is not treated at urgent care?
Urgent care centres cannot treat life-threatening emergencies, major trauma, severe chest pain, strokes, or conditions requiring hospital admission or specialist emergency care.
9. Do I need an appointment for urgent care?
No. St John Urgent Care centres operate as walk-in services, so appointments are not required.
10. Is urgent care a replacement for a GP?
No. Urgent care is designed for immediate, short-term medical needs when GP appointments are unavailable. Ongoing or chronic conditions should still be managed by a regular GP.