• An after-hours telephone triage and advice service

A region-wide telephone triage and advice service operates from the HUDGP head office.  Registered nurses provide initial medical advice to patients via our '1300' number established for this purpose.  Medical back up is provided by the on-call GPs.

The hours of operation of the telephone triage advice line are:

Monday to Friday  6.00pm to 8.00am next day

Saturday  1.00pm to 8.00am next day 

Sunday and Public Holidays  8.00am to 8.00am next day

Persons who require emergency assistance are advised to call 000.

• Five GP clinics situated across the Hunter urban region located at:

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  • Maitland Hospital
  • Belmont Hospital
  • John Hunter Hospital
  • Toronto Polyclinic
  • Newcastle Community Health Centre

One GP, a registered nurse and a clerical officer staff each clinic during opening hours, with a second GP on-call to provide back up to the clinic if necessary and to undertake home visits. 

All clinics have a fully stocked cupboard of pharmaceuticals for patients unable to access pharmacy services out of hours.  Pathology and imaging services are available on-site or through some other arrangement.  Patients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are able to access interpreter services in the same way as if they were attending a GP or other health service.

The hours of operation of the clinics are:

Monday to Friday   6.00pm to 11.00pm

Saturday  1.00pm to 11.00pm 

Sunday and Public Holidays  9.00am to 11.00pm

• A funded transport service for those patients who need to see a doctor but have no transport to attend a clinic or emergency department

Patients may be authorised by the telephone triage nurse or the on-call GP to travel by taxi or hire car to and from the clinic premises at the expense of the service if a lack of transport precludes them from otherwise attending.  

• A home visit service for those whose needs cannot be met by the above.

Home visits are provided to patients who require care before the next working day but for whom travelling to a GP service or hospital would have a detrimental effect on their health.  The home visit service is accessed via the telephone triage service, with the triage nurse following protocols regarding eligibility for a home visit.  A security guard accompanies GPs on home visits to private residences, and the GP may also travel by taxi or hire car.