Your Guide to Urgent Care in Queenstown

This guide explains how Urgent Care in Queenstown works, when to come to QMC, when the hospital is the right choice, and how ACC supports you after an injury.

Queenstown is an incredible place to live and visit, but injuries, illness, and unexpected health concerns can happen anywhere. Whether you’re a local, a seasonal worker, or here on holiday, it’s important to know where to go when you need same-day medical support.

What Is Urgent Care?

Urgent Care is for health issues that need attention today but are not life‑threatening emergencies. At QMC, our After Hours & Urgent Care clinic in Queenstown (9 Isle Street) is open 365 days a year, supporting Queenstown Lakes District Hospital, and welcomes everyone, locals, visitors, and people who aren’t enrolled with us. We are the only After Hours and Urgent Care service in Wakatipu, ensuring locals and visitors always have access to same‑day medical care.

You don’t need an appointment. Just walk in.

Who Can Be Seen at QMC?

Everyone. You do not need to be enrolled with QMC to receive care.

We regularly see:

• Local residents

• Visitors to Queenstown

• International travellers

• Seasonal workers

• People without a GP

• People who are enrolled with another practice

If you’re not enrolled, you’ll be seen as a casual patient, or tourists/those who are ineligible for funded healthcare in NZ will be seen as visitor patients. This simply means different fees apply, but the care is the same.

Children under 14 years old are seen for free at After Hours and Urgent Care

Even if your child is enrolled at another Queenstown practice, they can be seen for free with us for:

• After Hours for medical issues

• Anytime we are open for ACC‑related injuries

After Hours: Monday to Friday 6–8pm Weekends & Public Holidays 10am–5pm

Enrolled children can be seen for free regardless of ACC/medical reason or time of day for standard consultations.

T’s & C’s for non‑enrolled children: Your child must be enrolled at a practice under the WellSouth Primary Health Organisation.

‍

Urgent Care vs GP vs Hospital: Where Should You Go?

Come to QMC Urgent Care if you have:

• Sprains, strains, or suspected fractures

• Cuts, burns, or wounds

• Minor head injuries

• Allergic reactions (not severe)

• Injuries that may be covered by ACC

• Your health concern cannot wait until you can see a GP in an appointment

If you’re unsure, come in. We’ll assess you and guide you.

See a GP (your regular doctor) for:

• Ongoing or long‑term health conditions

• Medication reviews or repeats

• Non‑urgent concerns

• Routine check‑ups

• Immunisations

• Follow‑up care after an Urgent Care visit

If you don’t have a GP in Queenstown, you can still come to Urgent Care for same-day care.

Go to the Hospital or call 111 for emergencies such as:

• Severe chest pain

• Difficulty breathing

• Heavy bleeding

• Sudden weakness or collapse

• Severe allergic reactions

• Major trauma

• Serious head injuries

• Suspected stroke

• Severe burns

• Unconsciousness

If you come to QMC with symptoms that require hospital care, we’ll stabilise you and arrange transfer.

‍

How Urgent Care Works at QMC

Here’s what to expect when you arrive at our Queenstown Urgent Care clinic:

1. Walk in, no appointment needed

Head to 9 Isle Street. We’re open every day, including public holidays.

2. Check in at reception

If you have never been seen with us before, please fill in the casual patient form online before you visit for a quicker arrival. 


Visitor and casual patients will be required to pay for their visit prior to seeing the clinican.

3. Asked to wait in waiting area

4. Triage

A trained nurse will assess your symptoms in the care areas and determine how urgently you need to be seen.  

5. Asked to wait in waiting areas to see a GP/NP.

People are seen based on clinical priority, not arrival time.

6. Treatment

You’ll be seen by a doctor or nurse practitioner who will diagnose, treat, and arrange follow‑up if needed.

7. Payment & Insurance

Return to reception to finalise your account, if not done so prior to your visit.

If you are claiming your visit through insurance please remember to collect your notes from reception before you leave.

‍

ACC: How It Works

ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) covers injuries, not illnesses.

ACC covers:

• Slips, trips, and falls

• Sports injuries

• Skiing and snowboarding accidents

• Bike crashes

• Workplace injuries

• Burns, cuts, sprains, fractures

ACC does not cover:

• Illnesses (flu, infections, stomach bugs)

• Pre‑existing conditions

• Non‑accidental issues

For visitors:

ACC still applies, even if you’re from overseas - as long as the accident occurred here in NZ. You will still have a co‑payment for your visit if you are over 14, but ACC significantly reduces the cost of injury care.

We can lodge your ACC claim on the spot.

‍

When in Doubt, Come In

If you’re unsure whether your concern is urgent, emergency, or something a GP should handle, you’re not alone, many people feel that way.

Our team is here to help you make the right call.

Walk in, call us, or check our website for guidance. We’ll make sure you get the care you need.

‍