Wagga GP After Hours Service to close as care options evolve

Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN) has announced the Wagga GP After Hours Service will close on Sunday 30 November 2025.  

MPHN CEO Stewart Gordon said the decision was not taken lightly and reflects a broader shift in how after-hours primary care is delivered.  

“The way people access care is evolving, and now is the time to make changes that reflect today’s changing after-hours care environment and to ensure that our valued GP workforce can continue to deliver care well into the future,” Mr Gordon said.  

“While the Wagga GP After Hours Service has been a cornerstone of care for more than two decades, the care delivery landscape has changed, and an over-stretched GP workforce has made the current service unsustainable.  

“The Wagga GP After Hours Service has served our community well thanks to the dedication of local GPs, and we sincerely thank them for their commitment.  

“Virtual services such as the healthdirect helpline and Wagga Wagga GP-based Urgent Care Service are giving our local community more choices for care when their usual GP isn’t available.”  

Earlier this year, Marathon Health stepped in as the new provider to deliver a weekend-only model of the Wagga GP After Hours Service.  

Marathon Health CEO Megan Callinan said the organisation understands the impact of the closure and is focused on supporting patients during the transition.  

“We will keep our reception open for the next three weekends to help callers find alternative options,” Ms Callinan said.  

“We also encourage people to use Healthdirect as their first point of call when their GP is not available.” 

Healthdirect is a free service funded by all Australian governments and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Australians can access the service by visiting healthdirect.gov.au or calling 1800 022 222, where a registered nurse will assess their condition and provide guidance.  

Depending on the situation, callers may be referred to a virtual GP or receive assistance booking an in-person appointment through the Wagga Wagga GP-based Urgent Care Service, which offers around 100 bulk-billed weekday appointments across seven local practices for urgent, non-life-threatening care. They may also be connected to a local health service or given advice on how to safely manage their health at home.  

The healthdirect website also offers a range of digital tools like Symptom Checker for quick self-assessment and Service Finder for locating local health services and booking GP appointments online, helping Australians access the right care at the right time.  

As always, if critical after-hours care is needed, please call 000 or visit the emergency department.