Priority Primary Care Centre Bendigo
Care when it's urgent, but not an emergency
Priority Primary Care Centre - Bendigo
Priority Primary Care Centre Bendigo is operated by Bendigo Primary Care Centre and partners with Bendigo Health emergency department to provide value based priority care for people with non-life threatening conditions that require urgent attention but not an emergency response.
This includes conditions like
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mild infections,
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cuts,
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burns,
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suspected fractures or broken bones.
Pathology and imaging services are available as required.
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The centre provides same day treatment for patients who need urgent care to get help faster, while keeping our busy emergency department free for those in critical, life-threatening situations.
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We are located at 121 Arnold Street, Bendigo with available onsite parking for Priority Primary Care Centre patients.
Please call us on 03 5445 5690 during opening hours.
For more information and opening times click here.
Choosing the right care for you
Priority Primary Care
Priority Primary Care Centre Bendigo partners with Bendigo Health emergency department to provide value based priority care for people with non-life threatening conditions that require urgent attention but not an emergency response.
Priority Primary Care provides urgent care for injuries and illnesses including: - Mild to moderate infections - Fever - Pain when urinating - Suspected fractures or sprains - Back and muscle pain - Minor cuts and burns - Insect or animal bites - Heartburn, nausea or vomiting - Headaches, migraines and brief fainting or fitting - Constipation, Diarrhoea, abdominal pain - Allergies and rashes - Mild to moderate asthma attacks, coughs and other respiratory symptoms
Emergency Care
Call Triple Zero (000) or visit your nearest emergency department if you or someone you know is experiencing an immediate life-threatening emergency.
Call Triple Zero (000) or visit your local emergency department immediately if you or someone you know is experiencing: - Difficulty breathing - Severe Bleeding - Unconsciousness - Lips and face turning blue - Becoming agitated, confused or very drowsy - Chest pain or chest tightness - Sudden numbness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg - Large burns - Serious accidents or trauma - Extreme pain
Visit your regular GP
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Visit your regular GP for non-urgent and routine care
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Visit your regular GP for non-urgent and routine care such as: - Conditions that can wait several hours or days for medical attention - Chronic or long standing health conditions - Routine health assessments - Care Plans - Repeat prescriptions
Find Us
Address
Contact
121 Arnold Street
Bendigo
Victoria, 3550
03 5445 5690
Opening Hours
Monday
10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Tuesday
10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Wednesday
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Thursday
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Friday
10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Saturday
10:00 am – 10:00 pm
​Sunday
10:00 am – 10:00 pm
The Priority Primary Care Process
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Registration
All patients will be asked to complete a Patient Registration Form upon arrival. Please remember to bring: - Your Medicare Card (if you have one) - Your Pension / Healthcare / DVA Card (if you have one) ​​All Priority Primary Care consultations are Bulk-Billed and patients who do not have a Medicare Card will not be charged.
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Triage
The Priority Primary Care Centre Bendigo is a triage-based service. All patients who present to the clinic will be initially assessed and triaged by our Practice Nurse or Doctor. It is helpful if you can bring a list of your medications, this helps our Doctors and Nurses and can make your visit much faster and easier.
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Waiting Times
Patients will generally be seen in the order in which they present to the clinic, however we ask patients to understand that sometimes people may be prioritised based on needs identified through the triage process. On busy days our schedule can fill quickly. Our reception will always try to provide you with an indication of when you are likely to be seen, and we will initially confirm an indicative consult time for you when you first contact us (in person or over the phone). If you can call ahead on 03 5445 5690 we can give you a better idea of when you will be seen on the day and assign an indicative consult time for you that day. By assigning an indicative consult time we can ensure you will not lose your place in the queue on the day, but also allow you to do others things, or remain in the comfort of your home until your consult, rather than having to spend long hours in a waiting room. Please be aware that consult times are indicative, and may be slightly delayed depending on the needs of other patients on the day.
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Other Services
If you need care from another provider the Priority Primary Care Centre Bendigo team will provide you with the appropriate referral/s and guide you to where you can receive these services in the local community. Dorevitch offer pathology services from the same site as the Priority Primary Care Centre Bendigo Bendigo Health provide after hours medical imaging services to support patients of the Priority Primary Care Centre Bendigo. Bendigo UFS Pharmacies on the Corner of View and Barnard Streets provides after hours care 7am to 11pm, seven day per week to Bendigo and the local region and 9am to 9pm on public holidays. They also have a nurse available for non-emergency consultations most days of the week
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Ongoing Care
Depending on your needs, sometimes you may be asked to return to the Priority Primary Care Centre Bendigo to finalise the care provided for your urgent need. It is important to understand that the Priority Primary Care Centre Bendigo is not a service to replace your regular GP relationship. Priority Primary Care Centre Bendigo can assist you with urgent care but is not able to service your ongoing care needs. All patients seen by the Bendigo Priority Primary Care Centre GP will be discharged back to their regular GP once their urgent care needs have been attended to. If you do not have a regular GP the Priority Primary Care Centre Bendigo Reception team may be able to advise of local clinics that are taking new patients – please ask at Reception, but be mindful that a shortage of doctors in the community does mean it can be hard to find a new GP or clinic taking new patients.
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Help us to help you
Your feedback helps us to enhance the quality of our services for the whole community. The Priority Primary Care Centre Bendigo is funded by the Victorian State Government, through Murray Primary Health Network. Use the QR code above to complete a Victorian Government Patient Feedback form to tell us about your experience. ​ Customer feedback is an essential in helping us deepen our understanding of your experiences with our products and services. The Priority Primary Care Centre Bendigo and its partners are committed to listening to your feedback and incorporating your suggestions about this important community service. Your feedback can help ensure that we keep building the service the community needs and demonstrate the value this service provides to our local community.
Patients with Respiratory Symptoms
If you have respiratory symptoms and wish to visit the Priority Primary Care Centre Bendigo, please call ahead on 03 5445 5690.
Please also be aware that you may be asked to return to your car or wait outside if you have respiratory symptoms until one of our clinical team can see you safely.
This is an important precaution we take to help minimise the risk of other patients becoming infected inadvertently.
COVID-19
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If you have tested positive for COVID-19 it is likely that your symptoms will be mild and you can recover safely at home.
Please visit the Healthdirect website for information on managing COVID-19 at home.
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If you have mild or moderate symptoms (including confirmed COVID-19) you can seek care from your usual GP, or another GP if your usual one isn’t available. Most General Practices provide care for patients with respiratory symptoms, both by telehealth and face-to-face. Telehealth appointments are suitable for most low risk patients with respiratory symptoms.
You can also contact NURSE-ON-CALL on 1300 60 60 24 for free health advice, 24 hours a day.
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If you have urgent but non-life-threatening symptoms, you can contact the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department or see a GP at a Priority Primary Care Centre.
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Please note that Priority Primary Care Centres do not provide routine PCR testing.
COVID-19 testing options
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Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) are the easiest way to test for COVID-19. Please visit the Victorian Government Better Health Channel for information on when to use a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) – including where to get them and what to do if you test positive for COVID-19.
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Please remember that it is recommended that if you test positive for COVID-19 you wear a mask and isolate for 5 days or until a negative Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) result has been achieved.
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If you are at risk of severe COVID-19 illness, your Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) result is inconclusive, or you require a PCR test, a visit to a GP is recommended. A GP can decide if a PCR test is needed and may provide a referral to a pathology collection centre.
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Those unable to get a GP appointment can
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Contact the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department
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Call NURSE-ON-CALL on 1300 606 024
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In an emergency call Triple Zero - 000
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Visit the Better Health Channel for more information
Prescriptions
The Priority Primary Care Centre Bendigo does not prescribe Schedule 8 medications (or benzodiazepines).
Priority Primary Care Centre GPs can prescribe medication necessary to manage your urgent medical condition, but please continue to see your regular GP for routine prescriptions or chronic medications.
The Priority Primary Care Centre Bendigo is operated by Bendigo Primary Care Centre and partners with Bendigo Health.
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The Priority Primary Care Centre Bendigo is funded by the Victorian State Government, through Murray Primary Health Network.
