Penrith residents can now get house calls from a doctor after hours, with Family Care Medical Services now operating throughout the region.

Family Care’s doctors specialise in after-hours care.

They make house calls overnight from Monday to Friday, 6pm to 8am and noon Saturday to 8am Monday.

House calls are also available all day and night on Sundays and Public Holidays.

“Illness can strike at any time – late at night, in the early hours of the morning or on the weekend,” Chief Executive Officer Stuart Tait said.

“Authorities have warned NSW residents to expect a ‘potentially serious’ flu season this winter. Early treatment, like the care our doctors provide, can mean the difference between hospitalisation and recovery at home, especially for small children and older people.

“Many people wrongly believe that if they get sick late at night or early in the morning that a visit to the local hospital emergency room is their only option.

“Where a patient is suffering from a severe earache – or gastroenteritis – in the middle of the night, for example, then having one of our Family Care doctors treat them at home is a much better option.”

Mr Tait said that Family Care doctors see over 50 per cent of patients within 90 minutes of a call, and 80 per cent in less than three hours.

To have a doctor visit your home after hours phone 13 SICK (13 74 25).