1. If your condition is life-threatening and you are unable to make your way to your nearest hospital,
please call 000.
2. If your condition is non-life-threatening, please consider contacting the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED).
Emergency Department – Northern Hospital Epping
The Emergency Department at Northern Hospital Epping is the busiest emergency department in Victoria, caring for over 300 people per day.
The main function of the emergency department is to treat patients who are suffering from a serious illness or injury that could lead to severe complications if medical treatment is not received quickly. The Northern Hospital’s Emergency Department treats both adults and children, 24 hours a day.
Upon arriving at the Emergency Department, you will be triaged and asked to wait until it is your turn to be seen by a doctor.
Those with the most urgent healthcare needs will always be seen first.
Unfortunately, there are times when we are particularly busy, and significant waiting times can occur. This may be the case if your condition has been triaged as less urgent. We are working hard to ensure all patients receive care as soon as possible. The picture below provides a real-time guide to how busy we are.
For urgent care, when it is non-life-threatening, we recommend seeking assistance from one of the options below.
Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED)
The Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED) is a public health service for non-life-threatening emergencies. You can access emergency care from anywhere in Victoria, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, often avoiding a trip to the busy emergency department.
You will be connected to a team of health care professionals including doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacy and allied health who are trained to assist you and can provide medical advice, from the comfort of your own home or workplace.
As your consultation will be via video, you will need a device with a camera to use this service. Interpreter services are available for patients who have a preferred language other than English.
You can pre-register your details with the VVED, making it faster to access the service in an emergency.
Urgent Care Clinic
Urgent Care Clinics provide free, walk-in care for people who need urgent medical attention for non-life-threatening conditions.
Supported by the Victorian Government, Urgent Care Clinics are available across Victoria, operating seven days a week and open early to late. You do not need a Medicare card, an appointment or a referral from your GP.
Patients are assessed based on clinical need, which means those with more urgent symptoms may be seen first.
All patients are triaged by an experienced registered nurse and given a triage assessment. This may mean patients with non-urgent conditions need to wait before receiving further assessment and care.
Our Urgent Care Clinics
Kilmore District Hospital
Northern Health operates an Urgent Care Clinic at Kilmore District Hospital.
The clinic is staffed 24 hours a day by registered nurses. Medical coverage is provided from 10:00am to 10:00pm, weekdays and weekends.
Mernda Community Hospital
Northern Health operates an Urgent Care Clinic at Mernda Community Hospital.
The clinic is open from 12:00pm to 8:00pm, Monday to Friday.
The clinic provides care for non-life-threatening illness or injury, helping patients access urgent care closer to home.
Find other Urgent Care Clinic locations
There are Urgent Care Clinics located across Victoria. find your nearest clinic, visit the Victorian Government Urgent Care Clinics website below.
For non-urgent medical conditions, please book an appointment with your regular GP.
