There are several alternative care providers available in the area local to the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH), including after-hours services.
Should I go to Emergency?
If you're not sure whether your situation is an emergency:
- Use Healthdirect's online symptom checker for advice on the best place to receive care for your symptoms
- Call NURSE-ON-CALL on 1300 606 024 to speak to a nurse directly
For non-life threatening emergencies, the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department is a free public health service available anywhere in Victoria, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You do not need a Medicare card for this service.
Priority Primary Care Centres
A Priority Primary Care Centre (PPCC) provides free care for urgent but non-life-threatening conditions such as:
- Mild infections
- Fractures
- Burns
They also offer on-site pathology and imaging services.
Specialist Emergency Departments
Specialist Emergency Departments offer services relating to specific areas of the body.
The Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital
Open 24/7 for all patients requiring urgent care related to their eyes, ears, nose, or throat.
The Royal Dental Hospital Melbourne
Dental Emergency department hours
Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 5:00pm
Weekends and public holidays: 8:30am to 6:00pm
The Women’s Emergency Care service provides direct clinical care for women with emergency maternity and gynaecology problems, and emergency care for newborns who were born at the Women's and are less than two weeks of age.
The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
General practitioners (GP)
If it is not an emergency but you need to see a doctor, it may be faster and more convenient for you to see your general practitioner (GP) or visit a local medical centre.
How to find a GP
The following sites can help you find an appointment with a GP in your local area.
Healthdirect allows you to search for GP, pharmacy, urgent care and other specialty services, with filters for features such as facilities, bulk billing.
Health Engine allows you to search for GP, pharmacy, urgent care and other specialty services, with filters for features such as facilities, bulk billing, practitioner, language spoken and practitioner gender.
HotDoc allows you to search for GP, allied health, specialist and dental services.
Access online doctors’ appointments and other services via Medmate.
If you do not have a GP, download our patient information brochure ‘Everybody Needs a GP’ for more information on how to find one.
Pharmacies and after-hours pharmacies
Pharmacists and chemists, including after-hours pharmacies, may be able to help diagnose or triage symptoms and refer patients to appropriate medical care professionals.
They can also provide advice on medications, wound care, vaccinations, self-care and lifestyle assessments, medical certificates and advice about children and babies.
Find a pharmacy or after-hours pharmacy
Search for your local pharmacy or search the Healthdirect Service Finder to locate pharmacies with extended opening hours near you.
Victorian Supercare Pharmacies (after-hours and nursing services)
Victorian Supercare Pharmacies provide after-hours pharmacy services, 7 days a week.
The nearest Supercare pharmacy to the RMH Parkville is the Health Smart Pharmacy Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC):
Health Smart VCCC is open 24/7, 365 days a year, with a pharmacist on staff at all times.
A registered nurse is available to provide free clinical services and treatment for a range of minor injuries and illnesses, vaccinations, with no appointment or Medicare card required. The nursing service is available 6 to 10pm, 365 days a year.
Nurses are also able to provide NIP flu and whooping cough vaccinations.
Pharmacists are able to provide advice and over-the-counter treatments as well as medical certificates and can administer vaccines for COVID-19, Influenza, Whooping Cough, MMR, Meningococcal ACYW, Herpes Zoster (Shingrix), HPV (Gardasil-9), and Pneumococcal, with no prescriptions required.
Telephone and online helplines
There are many telephone helplines available for non-urgent medical advice or mental health crisis support. These are generally free or provided at the cost of a local call (some charges may apply to mobile users).
Visit our online and telephone services page.