Mount Gambier’s new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic opened on Monday with a flurry of patients.


The new clinic, operating under the Mount Gambier Family Health umbrella, has been designed to alleviate pressure on the Mount Gambier Hospital’s emergency department.


Clinic lead Dr Richard Try said he was pleased with the community’s response to the clinic, which provides a walk in service.


“We opened on Monday and we saw about over 30 people throughout the day,” he said.


“There were more that we gave telephone advice too, so overall it was more than 40-plus.


“We also had an informal report from the hospital and they saw a drop in A&E numbers, so it looks like it’s doing pretty well.”


Dr Try said the clinic had received several referrals from the hospital’s emergency department, primarily walk in patients, with two doctors and three nurses on staff.


“No one waited for more than an hour on Monday, it was in and out, which was very good,” he said.


“We saw some sprains, wrist and ankle injuries, infections, coughs and colds, tummy pain, gastroenteritis and we saw a couple of fractures which we sorted out.


“There was one fracture that had to be sent to ED.”


Dr Try said the clinic was providing a much needed service for the community.


“This is exactly what we were expecting, the data given to us from the hospital about what to expect was exactly correct,” he said.


Dr Try said the clinic, at 13 Crouch Street South, was currently operating from 9am to 6pm.


“As the service settles and we get used to what we are seeing we will look to increase those hours,” he said.


“We are so grateful for the support of the community, the hospital and SA Ambulance, everyone is coming together and working together as a collaborative exercise.”