by Jessica Matthews (RDM Co-founder and Publisher)
You’ve heard us talk about Walk-in Specialist Emergency (WiSE) Clinic at Macquarie Park many times before. I mean it’s the first of its kind in Australia and it happens to be in the Ryde Area! ?? So it’s definitely worth a reminder there is an alternative option to get our kids immediate acute care, rather than waiting for hours in a hospital emergency room.
Let’s be honest – visiting a hospital is the last thing we want to do at the moment! But having kiddos playing sports and being generally active means a trip to Emergency is likely at least once in a while. It’s not always the kids who get injured though ??♀️.
Our families most recent visit involved ME, a brand new Global knife (happy Fathers Day..?) and a finger. Some have you may have even seen my video documentation via Instagram.
Needless to say, the fact that I could Instagram meant all was not a complete disaster, but there was a touch go moment where I needed to consider whether or not I’d go under a general anaesthetic and have finger surgery! I thought I was going in for a couple of stitches but as there was some nerve damage the clinic had me meet with an orthopaedic surgeon straight away (at 7pm on Saturday night mind you).
Home by 9.30, I was more than happy to hand over $230 for this visit because there was zero wait time, the care was extremely thorough and I was able to immediately access all the care that I required.
Here’s photo evidence from Instagram:
So let me explain a little better.
Who are WiSE Emergency Clinic and what do they offer?
WiSE was formed by a group of specialist emergency doctors and healthcare managers to deliver acute and urgent care outside of the hospital environment. They see themselves as the medical professional team in between a GP and hospital. Here’s a video from 9 News about them that might interest you and help explain their role.
In NSW, 70% of hospital emergency department presentations are not admitted. Like me, the reason we would go to ED is that we believe it’s the only option. Now that WiSE has opened, patients with acute illnesses who require urgent care or specialist consultation have a new option outside general practitioners and hospital-based emergency departments.
WiSE Emergency Clinic provides immediate specialist care for but not limited to:
- Minor falls/trips
- Lacerations
- Suspected fractures
- Sporting injuries
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Dental emergencies
- Migraines/headache
- Mild asthma
- Problems in early pregnancy
- Fevers – adult and child
- Rashes and skin conditions
- Workplace injuries
- Overseas and international students
How does WiSE work?
When you enter, you first visit the reception/hot desk and are immediately greeted by a senior medical specialist. This is the person you explain your symptoms to, and who will administer your treatment. I love that there is no waiting after being triaged, or after being moved to a bed. Once greeted, you are looked after immediately.
No appointment is necessary but patients are welcome to call and see how busy they are. They have a dedicated paediatric area with toys for the kids, an acute care area for adults with state of the art facilities and tea, coffee and biscuits available at all times. Their goal is to open more clinics around Sydney to help relieve hospital emergency departments. I’m particularly impressed by the dental and ultrasound hours – 10am to 10pm, as many people need this kind of care outside standard office hours; e.g. concerned pregnant women.
What is the cost per consultation?
The cost of visiting the WiSE clinic is $230 (which is not covered by Medicare or health funds) however this includes your full medical assessment and any X-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds and blood tests if required, with little to no wait time, all on-site. Considering some private hospitals might cost almost $400, I think its quite reasonable price to pay- particularly when children are involved and when the only other option is the Emergency Department. Should you need medication while there, this is also provided along with scripts and of course, WiSE will update your GP on your visit.
At other times, if you do not need to see a Dr, however, have a referral from a GP or specialist, WiSE can offer bulk-billed diagnostics. X-rays, CT scans and ultrasounds.
Contact Details
WiSE is happy for people to phone them to see if a visit is recommended, or if it’s 9.30pm and knowing they shut at 10pm, as sometimes they said they can stay back to help you.
- Phone: 9216 7676
- Address: 17 Khartoum Rd, Macquarie Park (FREE parking for WiSE patients)
- Open 7 days a week 10am – 10pm (365 days a year!!)
- Check out their website here or Facebook page here.
PLEASE NOTE: If you or your family are experiencing any conditions that may be life-threatening please call 000 immediately.
THIS IS A SPONSORED ARTICLE BUT THE WORDS ARE OUR OWN
