Capital Health Network

Accredited medical deputising service operated by Canberra GPs, offering medical services within a GP’s scope of practice. 

How to access:  

• Call 1300 422 567  
• A phone triage and appointment system staffed by Registered Nurses operates weeknights 6pm –8.30am and 24 hours on weekends and public holidays. Patients who do not book an appointment will be advised on a range of appropriate treatment options. 
• Locations: Tuggeranong, Garran, Bruce or visits to home residences if deemed clinically appropriate.  
• Fees apply. Reduced fee for pensioners and health care card holders. No Medicare card required, but Medicare card holders will receive a rebate. 

* CALMS will operate under extended hours over the holiday period: 24 hours from 6pm 24 December until 8.30am 2 January.

More information: Home – CALMS 

In the ACT, general practices offer the highest proportion of care after hours, with the greatest number of sites available and patients seen. Visit HealthPathways ACT and SNSW for the full list of practices that operate after hours, their opening hours, locations and other referral information. 

Pharmacies can be accessed for non-serious conditions, to fill a prescription or stock up on medical supplies.  

Visit HealthPathways ACT and SNSW for the full list of pharmacies that operate after hours, their opening hours, locations and other referral information.

For patients who require after hours care but are unsure where to go, the Government-funded healthdirect service offers free, trusted health information and advice to point them in the right direction.    

How to access:  

• Call 1800 022 222 to speak with a Registered Nurse or visit their website to use the free online self-help Symptom Checker.    
• Helpline available 24 hours, 7 days a week   
• Virtual GP After Hours Service is available 6pm-8am, Monday to Friday; and 12pm, Saturday to 8am, Monday. Helpline callers who need a GP within 24 hours might be offered a call back from a healthdirect GP (Virtual GP). Virtual GPs can send an e-prescription via SMS and upload the prescription and a call summary to My Health Record for the caller’s regular GP to access.  

More information: Trusted Health Advice | healthdirect  

For more Telehealth providers that can be accessed after hours, visit ACT and SNSW HealthPathways.

Management of serious and life-threatening injury and illness, including: 

• Difficulty breathing 
• Chest pain or tightness 
• Uncontrollable bleeding 
• Severe trauma 
• Allergic reactions 
• Numbness or paralysis 
• Unresponsive episodes or seizures 
• Loss of consciousness  

How to access:  

• Call triple zero (000) or visit nearest ED  
• Open 24 hours, 7 days a week  
• Locations: Canberra Hospital (Garran), North Canberra Hospital (Bruce)  
• No fee for Medicare Card holders. Fees may apply for patients who are not eligible for Medicare. 

• Access Mental Health Line - 1800 629 354 

- Available 24/7 for concerns about oneself or someone else’s mental health. 

• 1800RESPECT - 1800 737 732 

- National domestic, family and sexual violence counselling and support service. 

• Geriatric Rapid Acute Care Evaluation (GRACE) - 0439 216 143 

- Clinical care for residents of residential aged care homes to manage conditions that may otherwise require a hospital presentation. 

• Maternity Assessment Unit - 02 5124 7444 

- 24/7 access to assessment and monitoring, for people who are greater than 19+6 weeks pregnant, or have issues related to a recent (within the last 14 days) birth. 

Informing your health care team about after hours care options can help them to guide patients in the right direction should they require care outside of regular business hours. Download our QuIK Tip for key information about accessing after hours services in the ACT. You may like to: 

• Email the resource to staff members 
• Print out the resource for reception staff  
• Print out the resource for GPs to refer to during a consultation 
• Update your practice’s website with after-hours care information from the resource.