Temporary change to Emergency Department After-Hours access at Wilcannia MPS
The Wilcannia Multipurpose Service (MPS) will make temporary changes to how community members access the Emergency Department after hours which will remain in place until Saturday, 31 January 2026.
The Emergency Department will continue to provide emergency care 24 hours a day, with an important change for those seeking care after hours.
From this Friday 21 November 2025, community members presenting to the Emergency Department between 7:00pm to 7:00am should phone (08) 8083 8700. In a life-threatening emergency always phone Triple Zero (000).
This change is being implemented to ensure patients receive safe care during the summer holiday period. On-call staff will still attend and provide prompt access to patients who require treatment after hours.
Healthcare services in rural and regional areas, across Australia, are facing ongoing challenges in key health worker recruitment.
Arrangements for people who present between 7:00am and 7:00pm are unchanged, meaning they will still be able to access walk-in care between those times seven days per week, including public holidays.
Far West LHD Chief Executive, Mark Dykgraaf, said the LHD remains deeply committed to supporting the Wilcannia community and maintaining local health services.
“We understand how important the MPS is to the Wilcannia community, and that any change to its operations can cause concern,” said Mr Dykgraaf.
“This decision was made with great care and consideration for our patients and our dedicated staff. The safety and wellbeing of our community is always at the heart of what we do. We appreciate the community’s understanding and ongoing support during this period.”
“We sincerely thank our staff for their hard work and dedication in continuing to provide the best possible care to our communities. These measures are temporary, and they are designed to protect the wellbeing of both our team and the people of Wilcannia.”
If an illness or injury is not urgent or life-threatening, community members are encouraged to call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for 24-hour advice. A registered nurse will answer your call, ask some questions, and call an ambulance if required or provide you with advice.
Please note that this adjustment will not impact the primary healthcare services provided Monday to Friday by the Royal Flying Doctor Service.