When 14-year-old Rachel Nordheim didn’t immediately get up after a tackle during her first rugby league season, her mum Lisa Bell knew something wasn’t right.
Dizzy and disoriented, Rachel was helped off the field, a frightening moment for any parent.
“I was told straight away by her coach and trainer to get her assessed for concussion,” Lisa recalls.
“They recommended Heal Urgent Care in Maitland, and I’d heard good things, especially that you didn’t have to wait hours like you do at hospital.”
Rachel was seen quickly, assessed using internationally recognised concussion protocols, and booked in for follow-up care.
“They were fantastic,” Lisa says.
“She was put straight into a private room, the staff were lovely, and the testing was thorough.
“It made us both feel safe.”
Heal Urgent Care, with locations in Newcastle and East Maitland, has fast become a trusted destination for illness and sports injuries, especially head knocks.
According to emergency physician and CEO at Heal Dr Tim Stewart, their new partnership with Hunter Junior Rugby League (HJRL) offers players the “gold standard” in concussion care.
“Concussion is a brain injury, and like a sprained ankle, it needs time to rest and recover,” he explains.
“We’ve seen over 30,000 patients in two years, a significant portion of those are sports injuries, and many involve head trauma.”
Through the partnership with HJRL, which now supports more than 8,000 players across 34 clubs, Heal offers injury-day walk-in care, ongoing assessment via its dedicated concussion clinic, and return-to-play guidance.
The service uses the Sports Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) version 6, aligned with global best practice.
“There’s now a safe, fast alternative to emergency departments, with expert clinicians trained to manage concussions properly,” Dr Stewart says.
“At Heal we’re not just treating an injury: we’re educating families, protecting players and setting a new benchmark for sports medicine in the region.”
Happily for Rachel, she is recovering well and counting down the days to return to the field with her team the Morpeth Bulls Rugby League Club.
“There’s peace of mind knowing she was properly assessed before going back to sport,” Lisa says.
“And, at the end of the day, that’s all you want as a parent.”
Heal Urgent Care Newcastle is open 8am–8pm, 7 days; Maitland is open 8am–6pm.
For more news stories:
- Council pedals into $6.1m worth of cycleway projects
- Financial assistance flows through for flood-impacted Hunter communities
- Newcastle, pack your bags for Bali
Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
