A new option for urgent medical care at WiSE Medical Specialist Emergency

When your child has an accident or gets sick very quickly, it’s scary enough without having to worry about where to turn. Should you head to a hospital? Call an ambulance? Or can it wait for an appointment at your medical centre? Well, now a new service is taking the guesswork out of a scary situation by providing an alternative to visiting the Emergency department or waiting for a doctor’s appointment. Michelle Key from NSM Smiles2U visited WiSE Specialist Emergency Clinic at Macquarie Park to find out how it all works… 

In an emergency, or any situation that calls for medical assistance, time can be of the essence. Instantly knowing where to go and how to get there quickly (plus your children being familiar with a service and its staff) can mean a smoother process for the whole family when it counts.

In the case of the walk-in WiSE Specialist Emergency Clinic at Macquarie Park, which opened its doors in February 2017, families are offered an alternative to visiting the Emergency department at the local hospital or waiting for an appointment with your local GP, even for more complicated matters. You will be met by a Specialist Emergency physician, who are experts in the immediate treatment of your medical condition or injury.

• Cardiology
• Paediatric services
  
• Dental
• ENT
• Gynaecology
• Opthamology
• Blood tests
• Ultrasounds
• X-ray
• Fracture clinic

But the real beauty of walking through the doors into WiSE is you’re immediately seen to and assessed by a doctor. Their focus is on positive experiences for patients, so numbers are capped at fifty a day to limit waiting, and blood tests, ultrasounds and X-rays are all done on-site, so you don’t have to wait hours for the results! In fact, average wait times from walking in the door to being assessed and treated is less than 2 hours (and in some rare cases it may be up to 4 hours, but never longer).

Paediatric Unit

We all know that life with kids is unpredictable, and they’re forever falling over and having accidents. WiSE have a fabulous, brand-new paediatric unit plus an iPad to entertain and distract the child in need!  Even if your child needs a cast for a broken limb, or stitches for a cut, this can all be done on site with a specialist – no need to be waiting for hours in your local hospital with a very unhappy and distressed child!

Cot in the paediatric unit

Prenatal Care

Those early days of pregnancy can be a stressful time wondering if all is okay – and waiting for blood test results can really play on the mind! Make it easier on yourself by heading to WiSE, who have a pathology lab on site. You can walk in, have a blood test done and an ultrasound and be given your results immediately, an enormous advantage for the expectant mum-to-be.

Fees and Extra Care

There is an upfront fee when you arrive, however this fee includes your specialist emergency assessment, X-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds and blood tests (if required). Bulk billing applies to X-rays, CT and blood tests (only with a GP or a specialist referral).

If you unexpectedly require a hospital admission whilst at WiSE, they will organise your admission and ambulance transfer to your local hospital as quickly as possible.

WiSE are not replacing your GP, but will liaise with your GP to ensure you are given the highest quality care. If further treatment is required they will refer you to a specialist within their practice for care.  The clinic is open after hours.

It’s wonderful to know that such a fantastic service is so close to us on the North Shore. As a mum of three boys, I hope I won’t need to visit – but if I do, I know they will be given the best possible treatment and service possible without waiting for hours in the local hospital.