Priority Primary Care Centres

The clinics are intended to ease pressure on nearby hospital emergency departments. Care is available to anyone with or without a Medicare card, at no cost to the patient. (Costs may be required for imaging, pathology and other services.)

Clinics are open during after-hours periods and offer pathology and imaging services on site or nearby.

They provide GP-led care for urgent but non-life-threatening* conditions such as:

• mild to moderate infections
• fever
• pain when urinating
• suspected minor fractures and sprains
• back and muscle pain
• minor cuts, burns, and insect or animal bites
• heartburn, vomiting, nausea
• headaches, migraines and brief fainting
• constipation, diarrhoea, abdominal pain
• allergies and rashes
• light bleeding in the first trimester of pregnancy
• mild to moderate asthma attacks, coughs and other respiratory symptoms.**

*Call Triple Zero (000) or visit your nearest emergency department if you or someone you know is experiencing an immediate life-threatening emergency.

**If you test positive to COVID-19, call the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080 or visit the Victorian Government website to access the care you need. You can also book an appointment at a GP respiratory clinic if you need to see a GP.

Commissioning process

PHNs are commissioning providers for the 25 clinics, which are to be established by early 2023. For information on the commissioning process in the various PHN regions, visit the following links:

• Eastern Melbourne PHN
• Gippsland PHN
• Murray PHN
• North Western Melbourne PHN
• South Eastern Melbourne PHN
• Western Victoria PHN

Locations

Visit the Better Health Channel website for information on clinic locations including opening hours, booking links and contact details.

Communications materials

To support promotion of PPCCs stakeholders can:

• visit health.vic to download approved messaging and collateral
• contact their local PHN to request local communications resources and support.

PPCCs vs GPRCs

GP respiratory clinics (GPRCs) also operate at many locations across Victoria as part of partnerships between primary health networks and the Victorian Government. These clinics provide GP-led testing and immediate treatment for people with mild respiratory symptoms only. More information is available on our website.

The map below shows the locations of GPRCs and PPCCs.