Triage and Clinical Services
- Triaging is a key part of our service, ensuring that each patient is seen in order of clinical urgency.
We are a walk-in service
As such wait times – and the order in which patients are seen – can change quickly, depending on how unwell or injured people are when they arrive.
We understand it can be frustrating to wait, especially if someone who arrived after you is seen sooner, but this is to make sure those with potentially life threatening conditions are treated first.
| Australasian Triage Scale Category | Category Description | Clinical Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 (RED) | Life Threatening Conditions |
Cardiac/Respiratory Arrest Immediate risk of airway, respiratory rate < 10/min, Extreme Respiratory Distress. BP less than 80 in adult. Severe shock in child/infant GCS scale less than 9 Prolonged seizure IV overdose Severe behavioral disorder |
| Category 2 (ORANGE) | Imminently life threatening, time sensitive treatment needed, or Severe pain. |
Airway risk (stridor) Circulatory Compromise (HR < 50 or > 150, Hypotension, severe blood loss, poor perfusion). Chest pain likely cardiac related Suspected sepsis, Febrile Neutropenia, Fever with lethargy Acute Stroke GCS less than 13 Suspected Testicular Torsion High Risk History (toxic ingestion, venomous bite, pain suggesting PE, AAA, ectopic pregnancy) |
| Category 3 (GREEN) | Potentially life threatening, situational urgency, or severe pain |
Severe Hypertension, Moderate blood loss Moderate Shortness of breath Vomiting Dehydration Seizure (post ictal) Head injury with LOC (now alert) Physiologically stable suspected sepsis Severe pain Limb injury with deformity or severe laceration, altered sensation, absent pulse Potential child abuse Behavioral/Psychiatric patient very distressed, risk of self-harm, potentially aggressive |
| Category 4 (BLUE) | Potentially serious condition, situational urgency or complex case |
Mild Hemorrhage Foreign Body Aspiration without respiratory distress Chest injury without rib pain or respiratory distress Minor head injury without LOC Moderate pain Vomiting or diarrhea without dehydration Inflammation or foreign body in eye without vision changes Minor limb trauma (ankle sprain, fracture, uncomplicated laceration with normal vital signs) Swollen, erythematous joint Semi urgent mental health problems with no immediate risk to personnel |
| Category 5 (WHITE) | Less urgent or Clinical-Administrative problems |
Minimal pain with no risk factors Low risk history Minor symptoms of illness Minor symptoms of low risk condition Abrasions or minor laceration Scheduled revisit Immunizations Patient with chronic psychiatric symptoms in social crisis |
- Cardiac/Respiratory Arrest
- Immediate airway risk, RR < 10/min, extreme respiratory distress
- BP < 80 (adult)
- Severe shock (child/infant)
- GCS < 9
- Prolonged seizure
- IV overdose
- Severe behavioral disorder
- Airway risk (stridor)
- Circulatory compromise (HR < 50 or > 150, hypotension, severe blood loss, poor perfusion), cardiac chest pain
- Suspected sepsis, febrile neutropenia, fever with lethargy
- Acute stroke
- GCS < 13
- Suspected testicular torsion
- High-risk history (toxic ingestion, venomous bite, pain suggesting PE/AAA/ectopic)
- Severe hypertension, moderate blood loss
- Moderate shortness of breath
- Vomiting, dehydration
- Seizure (post-ictal)
- Head injury with LOC (now alert)
- Stable suspected sepsis
- Severe pain
- Limb deformity/severe laceration, altered sensation, absent pulse
- Potential child abuse
- Psychiatric patient very distressed, self-harm risk, potentially aggressive
- Mild hemorrhage
- Foreign body aspiration without respiratory distress
- Chest injury without rib pain/respiratory distress
- Minor head injury without LOC
- Moderate pain
- Vomiting/diarrhea without dehydration
- Eye inflammation or foreign body (no vision changes)
- Minor limb trauma (sprain/fracture/simple laceration, normal vitals)
- Swollen, erythematous joint
- Semi-urgent mental health problems, no immediate risk
- Minimal pain with no risk factors
- Low risk history
- Minor symptoms of illness / low-risk condition
- Abrasions or minor laceration
- Scheduled revisit
- Immunizations
- Chronic psychiatric symptoms in social crisis
| Australasian Triage Scale Category | Response Time | Category Description | Clinical Indicators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1 (RED) | Seen Immediately | Life Threatening Conditions |
Cardiac/Respiratory Arrest Immediate risk of airway, respiratory rate < 10/min, Extreme Respiratory Distress. BP less than 80 in adult. Severe shock in child/infant GCS scale less than 9 Prolonged seizure IV overdose Severe behavioral disorder |
| Category 2 (ORANGE) | Seen within 10 minutes | Imminently life threatening, time sensitive treatment needed, or Severe pain. |
Airway risk (stridor) Circulatory Compromise (HR < 50 or > 150, Hypotension, severe blood loss, poor perfusion). Chest pain likely cardiac related Suspected sepsis, Febrile Neutropenia, Fever with lethargy Acute Stroke GCS less than 13 Suspected Testicular Torsion High Risk History (toxic ingestion, venomous bite, pain suggesting PE, AAA, ectopic pregnancy) |
| Category 3 (GREEN) | Seen within 30 minutes | Potentially life threatening, situational urgency, or severe pain |
Severe Hypertension, Moderate blood loss Moderate Shortness of breath Vomiting Dehydration Seizure (post ictal) Head injury with LOC (now alert) Physiologically stable suspected sepsis Severe pain Limb injury with deformity or severe laceration, altered sensation, absent pulse Potential child abuse Behavioral/Psychiatric patient very distressed, risk of self-harm, potentially aggressive |
| Category 4 (BLUE) | Seen within 60 minutes | Potentially serious condition, situational urgency or complex case |
Mild Hemorrhage Foreign Body Aspiration without respiratory distress Chest injury without rib pain or respiratory distress Minor head injury without LOC Moderate pain Vomiting or diarrhea without dehydration Inflammation or foreign body in eye without vision changes Minor limb trauma (ankle sprain, fracture, uncomplicated laceration with normal vital signs) Swollen, erythematous joint Semi urgent mental health problems with no immediate risk to personnel |
| Category 5 (WHITE) | Seen within 120 minutes | Less urgent or Clinical-Administrative problems |
Minimal pain with no risk factors Low risk history Minor symptoms of illness Minor symptoms of low risk condition Abrasions or minor laceration Scheduled revisit Immunizations Patient with chronic psychiatric symptoms in social crisis |
- Cardiac/Respiratory Arrest
- Immediate airway risk, RR < 10/min, extreme respiratory distress
- BP < 80 (adult)
- Severe shock (child/infant)
- GCS < 9
- Prolonged seizure
- IV overdose
- Severe behavioral disorder
- Airway risk (stridor)
- Circulatory compromise (HR < 50 or > 150, hypotension, severe blood loss, poor perfusion), cardiac chest pain
- Suspected sepsis, febrile neutropenia, fever with lethargy
- Acute stroke
- GCS < 13
- Suspected testicular torsion
- High-risk history (toxic ingestion, venomous bite, pain suggesting PE/AAA/ectopic)
- Severe hypertension, moderate blood loss
- Moderate shortness of breath
- Vomiting, dehydration
- Seizure (post-ictal)
- Head injury with LOC (now alert)
- Stable suspected sepsis
- Severe pain
- Limb deformity/severe laceration, altered sensation, absent pulse
- Potential child abuse
- Psychiatric patient very distressed, self-harm risk, potentially aggressive
- Mild hemorrhage
- Foreign body aspiration without respiratory distress
- Chest injury without rib pain/respiratory distress
- Minor head injury without LOC
- Moderate pain
- Vomiting/diarrhea without dehydration
- Eye inflammation or foreign body (no vision changes)
- Minor limb trauma (sprain/fracture/simple laceration, normal vitals)
- Swollen, erythematous joint
- Semi-urgent mental health problems, no immediate risk
- Minimal pain with no risk factors
- Low risk history
- Minor symptoms of illness / low-risk condition
- Abrasions or minor laceration
- Scheduled revisit
- Immunizations
- Chronic psychiatric symptoms in social crisis
Nurse-Led Triage Service
There are times, despite our best efforts, that we have no doctor available to work at Napier Urgent Care. In these situations, we move to a Nurse-Led Triage Service. This is identified as Code Whero on our home page.
What does this mean for patients …
- Every patient will receive a full triage and nursing assessment.
- If you are visiting for routine primary care, you may be redirected to your GP, advised to return later or the following day, or given information about alternative services (including telehealth).
- Urgent and emergency cases will be transferred to the Emergency Department at Hastings Hospital via St John Ambulance or another appropriate transport option.
- Our nurses can provide first aid, nursing care within their scope, and medications under standing orders.
We encourage all patients to present to Napier Urgent Care so we can triage you promptly; unless you are experiencing a medical emergency – in this case please call 111.
Services Not Provided at Napier Urgent Care
The following is a list of services we are unable to provide at Napier Urgent Care.
- WINZ Medical Certificates
- Drivers Medical Certificates
- Pre-employment Medicals
- Seafarers Medical Certificates
- Drug Testing
- Childhood Vaccinations
- Repeat Prescriptions
- Minor Surgery
- Long term contraception (IUD, jadelle, mirena)
- Cortisone injections
Clinics
Our clinics provide comprehensive care to meet your health needs, from urgent medical treatment to ongoing family care. With experienced doctors, nurses, and support staff, we’re here to deliver timely, compassionate, and professional services. Whether you need help with minor injuries, routine check-ups, or specialized care, our team is dedicated to keeping you and your family well.
Fracture Clinic
Our Fracture Clinic provides comprehensive care for musculoskeletal injuries, ensuring fast effective recovery. We are ACC-accredited and specialise in:-
Casting & Splinting – custom-fit casts and splints for fractures, sprains, and soft tissue issues.
Injury Assessment & Management – prompt diagnosis, treatment plans and ongoing care.
Referrals – seamless co-ordination with GPs, orthopaedic specialists, radiology and physiotherapists.
ACC Support – assistance with injury claims, documentation and follow-up care.
By appointment only.
Wound Clinic
Our clinic offers expert wound care, including follow-up dressings and wound reviews to support effective healing. We are ACC-accredited and provide treatment for a wide range of wounds, including injury-related, surgical, chronic wounds, burns and cellulitis.
Clinic Hours:
Available daily from 1:30pm to 2:30pm by booked appointment only.
A nurse will schedule your wound clinic appointment when you first present with an injury.
By appointment only.
Holter Service Clinic
A Holter monitor is a battery-operated portable device that measures and records your heart’s activity (ECG) continuously for either 24, 48 hours or 7 days depending on your GP’s recommendation. Your GP or Cardiologist wants to record your heart rate and rhythm to determine further or additional treatment. This could be because you’re experiencing palpitations, fainting spells or racing of the heart, for example.
Referrals are made into this service by one of our doctors, your own enrolled doctor or cardiologist.
You will be asked to record any of these sensations or symptoms if they occur while you’re being monitored in a diary, as well as your daily activities.
The device is about the size of a matchbox that attaches to the centre of your chest by an adhesive patch. You wear it for the recommended time and once you hand it back (with your diary), the information is sent through to a cardiologist who interprets the information and sends it back to Napier Urgent Care. We then forward this on to your GP who will then contact you for further treatment. This can take anything from 24 hours to 2 weeks
The fees for this service are:
24 hours – $375
48 hours – $400
7 days – $525