Seeking medical help over the Easter break

Tasmanians and visitors to the state asking “Who do I call?” for medical and pharmacy support over the Easter holiday period will have access to free services to see what help is available near them.

People falling ill over the break are urged to ‘Save 000 for saving lives’ and instead go online or call a helpline if their regular doctor isn’t available outside normal business hours, including on public holidays.

Tasmania Medicare Local (TML)’s Manager – After Hours Care, Ms Meghan Mann-Leonard, said a free-call phone service was available 24 hours a day for medical advice, and an online directory provided information about after hours GP and pharmacy services available in local areas.

“If you don’t have a regular GP, if they are not available, or if you’re away from home, you can call 1800 022 222 for free medical advice,” she said.

“This takes you to the national Healthdirect Australia telephone health advice service, where a registered nurse can provide information and advice. If needed, they can put you in touch with an on-call doctor in Tasmania through the local GP Assist service”.

TML has partnered with the state’s tourism industry to help Tasmanians and visitors find Tasmanian GP and pharmacy services available on public holidays, weekends and all year round on TML’s dedicated Tas After Hours website (www.tasafterhours.com). Opening hours for the Easter period will be live from Good Friday.

Since 2013, TML has been promoting this information through accredited visitor information centres around the state.

“Visitors to the state or Tasmanians travelling to local holiday spots in rural and regional areas sometimes need access to medical and pharmacy services,” Ms Mann-Leonard said.

“These resources will help ease the worry for people needing help away from home.”

The online directory lists the opening hours of all pharmacies across Tasmania providing after hours services. It also lists opening hours, bulk-billing options, walk-in appointments and on-call availability of general practices.

Tasmanian Visitor Information Network Executive Officer Judy Moore said visitor centres across Tasmania find it reassuring that they can quickly access up-to-date information to respond to travellers’ queries about after hours medical and pharmacy information.

“The TML after hours website is an extremely important and invaluable tool for visitor centres and enables staff to quickly identify general practices and pharmacies for visitors and locals on holidays who may need to access these services,” she said.

“It is particularly important to be able to source this information in rural and regional areas where there may be limited options.”

People are reminded to only call for an ambulance if there is a medical emergency this Easter.

Paramedics and volunteer ambulance officers attended about 790 incidents across the state during the Easter weekend last year.

“Like Christmas and New Year, Easter is always a busy time of year and Tasmanians can help by only calling triple zero in a genuine emergency,” Ambulance Tasmania Chief Executive Officer Dominic Morgan said.

“Our priority is to get to the most seriously ill and injured as quickly as possible.

“People who call us for routine ailments or minor injuries where other treatment options exist may delay us getting to someone whose life is at risk.

“Those suffering from less serious problems should book an appointment with their regular GP, go to an after hours clinic, visit a pharmacist or call an advice line.”

People are also reminded to pick up prescriptions and refill medicine cabinets before the festive period begins, to prevent unnecessary ambulance call-outs.

Tasmania Medicare Local acknowledges the financial and other support of the Australian Government Department of Health
Tasmania Medicare Local: Jenny Denholm, Ambulance Tasmania: Leigh Arnold, Tasmanian Visitor Information Network: Judy Moore