A SURGE of patients seeking emergency care kept Bass Coast Health (BCH) staff busy over the Christmas and January holiday period.
Holidaymakers and local residents sought medical attention at BCH’s Emergency Department (ED) at Wonthaggi Hospital and Urgent Care Centre (UCC) at the Phillip Island Health Hub, which are both open 24/7.
The ED in Wonthaggi saw 1,872 patients between December 22, 2024 and January 19, 2025, while the UCC in Cowes saw 1,587 patients during the same period.
Among the top reasons for presentation at the ED were open wounds and bites, chest pain, abdominal pain, infections, back pain and gastroenteritis.
At the UCC, viral infections, abdominal pain, removing surgical dressings and sutures, cough, leg cellulitis and chest pain were the major causes of people seeking help.
BCH Interim CEO Simone Alexander said the health service usually experienced an increase in demand over this holiday period as more people visit the Bass Coast to enjoy their summer break, in addition to the growing permanent population.
“We are well equipped with expert staff and state-of-the-art facilities to care for patients and are able to provide an extensive range of treatment for a variety of conditions,” she said.
The ED is two years old and has many treatment spaces and a Short Stay Unit for patients requiring extended care. A Fast-Track unit enables patients with less complex conditions to be seen as soon as possible.
The UCC is well equipped by contemporary standards. By next summer, Island locals and visitors will be serviced by a new Urgent Care Centre to be included within the new Phillip Island Community Hospital.
“Our clinicians are skilled and knowledgeable, and know when to transfer patients with more serious and complex injuries or illnesses to other hospitals for more advanced treatment,” Ms Alexander said.
“People presenting to ED and the UCC are asked to please be patient as there may be a delay if they have a non-urgent condition. Our staff help the sickest patients first and that includes patients who are brought to our health service by ambulance and are not visible to patients in waiting areas.
“We encourage people who are waiting to let the staff know if their condition worsens.”
The Urgent Care Centre is at the Phillip Island Health Hub, 50 Church Street, Cowes. The Emergency Department is at Wonthaggi Hospital, 235 Graham Street, Wonthaggi. If you need immediate care, always phone triple zero (000) for an ambulance.
