Holiday Service Closures

ACT Emergency Departments at Canberra Hospital and Calvary Hospital will operate as normal over the Christmas and New Year period. Some other services have changed availability.

ACT Pathology

Most out-patient collection centres will be closed from 25 December - 3 January, except for TCH Collection Centre (open 8am – 4pm, 29 – 31 December) and Cancer Centre Building 19 TCH (open 8am – 12pm, 29 – 31 December).

From 4 – 7 January, Calvary Pathology will operate from 9am – 2pm. Their regular hours will return from 10 January.

Weston Pathology will remain closed from 25 December - 10 January.

ACT Public Hospitals

ACT Emergency Departments at Canberra Hospital and Calvary Hospital will operate as normal over the Christmas and New Year period.

The two visitors per patient, per day policy is still in place. You can find more information regarding visitor restrictions at: health.act.gov.au/news/visitor-restrictions.

Breastscreen ACT

All three BreastScreen ACT clinics (Phillip, Civic and Belconnen) will be closed from 5pm on 24 December 2021 to 8:30am on 4 January 2022, with no screening or assessments available during this period. These services will recommence on 4 January 2022.

For bookings or information call 13 20 50 or visit the Breast screening page.

Central Health Intake

Community Health Intake (CHI) will be closed from 3.30pm on 24 December and closed all day 25 December to 29 December 2021 and 1, 2 and 3 January 2022.

Normal operations return from Tuesday 4 January 2022.

Limited CHI services will be available on 30 December and 31 December 2021 by calling 5124 9977 between 9.00am and 4.00pm.

The Central Outpatient Intake/Bookings phone line will be open up until 3:30pm on 24 December and will resume normal operations on Tuesday 4 January 2022.
 

Community Health Centres

Canberra Health Services provides six Community Health Centres across the ACT offering a range of general and specialist health services to people of all ages. For more information on these services and locations visit the ACT Health website.

Tuggeranong: Closed 25 December 2021 to 3 January 2022 inclusive. Services resume as normal on 4 January 2022.
Phillip: Closed 25 December 2021 to 3 January 2022 inclusive. Services resume as normal on 4 January 2022.
Civic: Closed 25 December 2021 to 3 January 2022 inclusive. Services resume as normal on 4 January 2022.
Gungahlin: Closed 25 December 2021 to 3 January 2022 inclusive. Services resume as normal on 4 January 2022.
Dickson: Closed from 25 December 2021 to 3 January 2022 inclusive. Services resume as normal on 4 January 2022.
Belconnen: Closed 25 December 2021 to 29 December 2021 inclusive. Limited services will be available 30 December and 31 December 2021 only. Services will resume as normal on 4 January 2022.
Weston Creek: Closed from 25 December 2021 to 3 January 2022 inclusive. Services resume as normal on 4 January 2022.

Community Nursing

Closed 25 December 2021. Limited services will be available from 26 December 2021 to 3 January 2022. Services resume as normal on 4 January 2022.

Note: Necessary community nursing services for priority patients will be provided on all public holidays.

More information about the Community Care Program can be found here: www.health.act.gov.au/services/community-care-program.

COVID-19 Testing Clinics

There will be COVID-19 testing clinics operating over the Christmas holiday period.

You can find information on where to get tested here: www.covid19.act.gov.au/testing-locations.

Health Protection Service

The Health Protection Services will be closed from 4.30pm Thursday 23 December 2021, reopening 9.00am Tuesday 4 January 2022. For urgent matters over this period contact: 02 5124 9700.

For more information visit the health website at: https://www.health.act.gov.au/about-our-health-system/population-health

Maternal and Child Health (MACH) services

Maternal and Child Health clinics will have limited services available between 25 December to 31 December.

The Early Pregnancy and Parenting Support Line will be available on 24, 30 and 31 December and MACH services will resume from 4 January 2022. Please call 5124 1775 and leave a voice message including your name, best contact number and reason for the call and a health professional will return your call. This is not an emergency service and we are not able to return calls on Public Holidays.

A Maternal and Child Health nurse or a midwife will be available to call about any questions or concerns relating to:

  • breastfeeding and feeding
  • you or your baby after you get home from hospital
  • sleep, settling and parenting
  • emotional wellbeing - for those who are pregnant, partnered to a pregnant person or parenting young children
  • arranging a brief consultation appointment with a MACH nurse
  • advice about your early maternity care

For parenting and child health advice on Public Holidays, you can contact Pregnancy Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 or healthdirect on 1800 022 222. If you are worried about your child’s health, please go to the nearest hospital or in case of an emergency call 000.

Mental Health

Mental Health ACCESS provides a 24-hour, 7 days a week telephone screening/assessment and referral service for ACT residents who have a mental illness, their families and their carers.

ACCESS will be operational every day of the Christmas and New Year period and will refer to the Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team or other services as appropriate.

Call ACCESSS on 1800 629 354 (free call except from mobiles or public phones) or 6205 1065, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Acute mental health services at Canberra Hospital and Calvary Public Hospital will operate as usual during the Christmas and New Year period.

Other important numbers

  • Lifeline 13 11 14, 24-hours, 7 days a week.
    Lifeline provides a free and confidential telephone crisis support service, visit www.lifeline.org.au.
  • Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467, 24-hours, 7 days a week.
    Suicide Call Back Service provides a free phone counselling service for anyone affected by suicide by calling the number above or alternately this service provides a chat online service. Information can be found by visiting their website www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au.
  • Kids Help Line Help Line 1800 55 1800, 24-hours, 7 days a week.
    Kids Help Line provides a free counselling service for kids and young people aged 5-25 years, visit kidshelpline.com.au.
  • Beyondblue 1300 22 4636, 24-hours, 7 days a week.
    Beyondblue provides information and support to help everyone with their mental health, visit www.beyondblue.org.au.
  • MensLine 1300 789 978, 24 hours, 7 days a week.
    MensLine is a telephone and online counselling service for men with family and relationship concerns, visit www.mensline.org.au.
  • The Way Back 1800 929 222, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.
    (Way Back will be closed on public holidays, Christmas Day 25 December, Boxing Day 26 December, New Year’s Day 1 January)
    Way Back is available to support people in the first few months following a suicide attempt. Call or visit www.wcs.org.au/services/mental-health/the-way-back-support-service.
  • The National Sexual Assault, Family and Domestic Violence Counselling Service (NSAFDCVS): 1800 424 017, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
    NSAFDVCS is available to support people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and sexual abuse, call or visit www.1800respect.org.au.

Vaccination Clinics

Weston Creek Access and Sensory Vaccination Clinic will be closed from 4pm on 21 December 2021 and will reopen on 4 January 2022.

AIS Arena COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Clinic will be closed from 4pm on 24 December 2021 and will reopen on 4 January 2022.

More information can be found here: www.covid19.act.gov.au/stay-safe-and-healthy/vaccine 

Walk-in Centres

Walk-in centres provide free treatment of non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses such as cuts and strains, fractures, and infections. No appointment is needed. For more information visit the ACT Health website.

Belconnen: Open 7.30am to 10.00pm every day, including Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Tuggeranong: Open 7.30am to 10.00pm every day, including Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Gungahlin: Open 7.30am to 10.00pm every day, including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Inner North: Open 7.30am to 10.00pm every day, including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Weston Creek: Open 7.30am to 10.00pm every day, including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Note: Children under 2 years, and people with complex or serious conditions should see their General Practitioner.

Women’s Health Service

Women’s Health Service will be closed from Saturday 25 December 2021. We will reopen on Tuesday 4 January 2022.
 

Page last updated on: 10 Dec 2021