Urgent Care - Urgent Care Outside of The USA

Urgent Care Outside of The USA

Although the urgent care movement began in the USA, urgent care centers have become an important component of healthcare delivery in several other countries, including Canada, England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Israel. In March, 2008 the Accident and Medical Practitioner's Association and the Australasian Society for Emergency Medicine hosted the first international urgent care conference in Auckland, New Zealand. In 2000, New Zealand became and remains the first country to recognize urgent care as a distinct medical specialty. In October 2011, New Zealands Accident and Medical Practitioners Association (AMPA) chaired by Dr David Gollogly, changed its name to the College of Urgent Care Physicians (CUCP). CUCP runs a four year Fellowship programme in Urgent Care. In 2010, the National Health Service of England instituted a national phone hotline (NHS 111) for the public to use to access care for medical problems that are urgent but not true emergencies. The number to dial for this service was designated as 111 and given the tagline, "When it's less urgent than 999." In England, the number to dial for true emergencies remains 999.