Your After Hours Healthcare Options

Posted on 22 May, 2015

It’s 9pm and your child has a raging fever.

It’s 6am and you’ve woken up, feeling anxious because you didn’t use contraception in that unexpected passion session last night.

Unfortunately, our healthcare needs don’t always wait for ‘business hours’. And whether you’re seeking kids’ paracetamol or the morning after pill, chances are there have been times that you’ve needed a pharmacy before 9am or after 5:30pm.

Capital Chemist Wanniassa is one of the growing number of pharmacies who are offering extended opening hours, which they say is an area of need in Tuggeranong.

“Often parents come in needing medicines for children, or customers access after hours doctor services which require their medication to be dispensed,” says Pharmacist, Elise Apolloni.

“We even offer leave certificates any time of day, so often we get requests for these.”

Honor and Elise, partners in Capital Chemist Wanniassa.

With increasing pressure on our emergency rooms, pharmacies offering extended hours are a convenient option for those customers who aren’t keen to face hours of wait time in A&E.

“Many common minor ailments can be appropriately managed with the assistance of a pharmacist,” says Elise”

“We can offer health solutions for people suffering from strains and sprains, wounds, colds and cough, allergies and for pain and fever.”

This is a sponsored post from Capital Chemist Wanniassa.

The business has been in Canberra since 1978, so they’ve seen a lot of changes. But one thing that hasn’t changed is the need for people to access health care after doctors’ surgeries have closed. Capital Chemist Wanniassa has been open 9am to 9pm seven days per week from nearly the very beginning, and now has pharmacists available 7am to 10pm weekday and 9am to 9pm on weekends and public holidays.

“We have been available after hours for a really long time already,” says Elise. “We just to decided to extend further to help more people when they need it most.”

Increasingly, pharmacies are also offering support in the areas of health management and preventative care such as: blood glucose and blood pressure monitoring, quit smoking programs, weight loss and nutrition programs, baby clinics and diabetes education services.

YOUR AFTER HOURS HEALTHCARE OPTIONS

It’s worth being across your options when it comes to after hours healthcare options. Keep this list handy for when you need it.

Pharmacy – For minor health concerns and medication queries.

General Practice – Go to your local GP. Click here to find out if your GP is open.

Home Doctors – Home Doctors come to your house after hours and bulk bill! Call 13 SICK (that’s 13 7425) for a bulk billed doctor to your door.

CALMS – Canberra wide after hours GP appointments. Phone 1300 422 567 for an appointment or visit www.calms.net.au

Health Direct – Telephone advice from a Health Professional. Phone 1800 022 222 – 24 hours 7 days or visit www.healthdirect.org.au

Walk-in Centre – One-off treatment for minor illness and injury for patients over 2 years of age. Find out more at www.walkincentre.act.gov.au

Emergency Department – For accidents and emergencies. Open 24 hours 7 days. Click here to find your nearest emergency department.  In an emergency or life threatening situation call 000.

This is a sponsored post from Capital Chemist Wanniassa. Read our Sponsored Post Policy if you’d like further information.

Feature image of sick little boy with thermometer in his mouth from Shutterstock.com