After Hours
Not sure what to do after hours and you can’t wait until we re-open? Use this guide to decide whether to call 000, go to an Emergency Department or a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, call 1800Medicare, or use our after-hours service.
After Hours Emergencies
For any life-threatening emergency, you should call 000, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. You may need to go to ED for these severe or urgent conditions:
severe pain
problems with breathing or bleeding
loss of consciousness or unexplained fitting
severe mental health concern
If you’re injured from an accident or other incident, you may also need to go to an ED. Some examples include:
broken bones
severe burns
If you are pregnant and experience an emergency, you can go to ED or call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance. If your concern is less urgent, contact your usual doctor, midwife, or maternity unit.
The nearest emergency departments to our clinic are:
Sandringham Hospital - 193 Bluff Rd, Sandringham VIC 3191 (public hospital - 5.3km)
Monash Medical Centre, 246 Clayton Rd, Clayton VIC 3168 (public hospital - 9km)
Holmesglen Private Hospital - 490 South Rd, Moorabbin VIC 3189 (private hospital - fees apply - 4.4km)
Cabrini Malvern - 181/183 Wattletree Rd, Malvern VIC 3144 (private hospital - fees apply - 14km)
Patients with urgent but non-life-threatening symptoms can register for the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department. You can connect to the VVED from anywhere in Victoria.
If you are eligible, you will be connected virtually to emergency doctors and nurses who will provide medical advice, from the comfort of your own home or workplace, rather than waiting in a physical ED at a hospital. As your consultation will be via video, you will need a device with a camera to use this service.
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics
The Victorian Government has set up more than 38 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across Victoria, which partner with nearby hospital emergency departments. They provide free care for people with conditions that require urgent attention but not an emergency response. This includes:mild to moderate infectionsfeverpain when urinatingsuspected minor fractures and sprainsback and muscle painminor cuts, burns, and insect or animal bitesheartburn, vomiting, nauseaheadaches, migraines and brief faintingconstipation, diarrhoea, abdominal painallergies and rasheslight bleeding in the first trimester of pregnancymild to moderate asthma attacks, coughs and other respiratory symptoms.**
They also offer pathology and imaging services.
The centres help Victorians who need urgent care get help faster, while keeping our busy emergency departments free for those in critical, life-threatening situations.
They operate accept walk-ups, referrals and pre-booked appointments, and free care is provided even if you do not have a Medicare card.
The nearest Medicare Urgent Care Care Centres to our clinic are:
Sandringham Medicare Urgent Care Centre, within Sandringham Hospital at 193 Bluff Rd, Sandringham VIC 3191. It is open 8am to 10pm, 7 days week. Walk in or phone ahead on (03) 9119 1000
Carnegie Medicare Urgent Care Centre, 2 Koornang Rd, Carnegie VIC 3163. It is open 8am to 10pm, 7 days week. Bookings via phone (03) 9069 7522 or online
*Call Triple Zero (000) or visit your nearest emergency department if you or someone you know is experiencing an immediate life-threatening emergency.
1800Medicare
1800MEDICARE is a free, 24/7 national health advice line you can reach by calling 1800 633 422 to speak with a registered nurse about non-emergency health concerns.
The nurse will ask about your symptoms and guide you to the right care, whether that’s looking after yourself at home or getting help from a health service in your area.
If you call in the after-hours period, and the nurse recommends seeing a GP, they may arrange for a 1800MEDICARE GP telehealth consultation. This service is available between 6pm and 8am Monday to Friday, and all weekend.
You can also access key health information, electronic prescriptions and more through the 1800MEDICARE app.
Urgent Non-Emergencies - Hello Home Doctor Service
If you need medical care which is not an emergency but cannot wait until we re-open, you can call our normal phone number 03 8400 0364 and connect to Friendship Square Medical’s after hours service.
This involves a bulk billed telephone consultation with the Hello Home Doctor Service, and they may also be able to arrange a bulk billed home visit. They will send us a report of your visit the next day, so we are kept up-to-date.
You can also book online directly with Hello Home Doctor Service.
