Migraine and Severe Headache — When to Seek Urgent Care

When Is a Headache Urgent?

You should seek same-day urgent care assessment if you are experiencing:

• A migraine that is not responding to your usual medication — longer, more severe, or different from your typical pattern
• A new type of headache you have not experienced before — particularly if severe
• Headache with visual disturbance — blurred vision, double vision, flashing lights, or partial vision loss
• Headache with nausea and vomiting that prevents you from keeping medication down
• Headache lasting more than 72 hours continuously
• Headache with neck pain or stiffness
• Headache with dizziness, balance problems, or difficulty concentrating
• Headache with numbness or tingling in the face, arms, or legs
• Headache that wakes you from sleep or is worse first thing in the morning
• Headache following a head injury — even if the injury was days ago
• New headaches in someone over 50 with no history of headache

These symptoms do not necessarily indicate a serious condition, but they warrant clinical assessment by a qualified doctor to determine whether further investigation is needed.

Migraine Assessment and Treatment

Migraine is a neurological condition that causes moderate to severe headache, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. A migraine attack can be debilitating — lasting hours to days and significantly impacting your ability to work, care for your family, or function normally.

At SmartCare UrgentCare, our emergency specialist team can:

• Assess your headache and differentiate migraine from other causes
• Provide acute migraine treatment — including injectable anti-nausea medication and pain relief when oral medication cannot be tolerated due to vomiting
• Administer IV fluids if you are dehydrated from vomiting or unable to drink
• Arrange onsite CT imaging if your headache has features that require investigation
• Provide a discharge plan including a management strategy for future attacks
• Recommend GP follow-up for ongoing migraine prevention if you are experiencing frequent or disabling migraines

Why Attend Urgent Care Rather Than Your GP for a Migraine?

There are specific situations where urgent care is more appropriate than a GP appointment for migraine:

• You cannot keep oral medication down — if vomiting prevents you from taking your usual migraine tablets, you may need injectable anti-nausea medication and pain relief. Most GP clinics do not administer injectable medication.
• Your migraine has lasted more than 24 hours — a prolonged migraine (status migrainosus) may require intervention beyond what is available in a GP setting
• Your migraine is different from usual — any change in pattern warrants assessment to exclude other causes
• Your GP is not available today — and you need relief now, not in three days
• You need IV fluids — if you are dehydrated from prolonged vomiting, IV rehydration can significantly accelerate recovery

Onsite CT — When Imaging Is Needed

Not every headache requires imaging. Current clinical guidelines recommend against routine CT scanning for typical migraine without red flag features. However, your emergency specialist may recommend onsite CT if your headache has features that suggest a cause other than migraine — including sudden onset, new neurological symptoms, or a significant change from your usual headache pattern.

At SmartCare UrgentCare, CT is available onsite during the same visit. If imaging is clinically indicated, it can be arranged and completed without a separate appointment or radiology referral.

Headaches in Children

Headaches in children — including migraine — are more common than many parents realise. Children may describe headache differently from adults, or may present with abdominal pain, nausea, or behaviour changes rather than a classic headache complaint.

SmartCare UrgentCare sees children of all ages for headache assessment. Our emergency specialist team includes doctors experienced in paediatric presentations who can assess your child, exclude serious causes, and provide a management plan.

Headache After a Head Injury

Headache is the most common symptom following a head injury or concussion. Post-traumatic headache can develop immediately or in the days following the injury. If you have sustained a head injury and are experiencing persistent or worsening headache, walk in for assessment. Onsite CT is available if clinically indicated.

 

WALK IN

Walk in today — SmartCare UrgentCare, Shop 8, 95 Southern Cross Circuit, Springfield Central. Open 7 days. Onsite CT available. No appointment needed.

 

WORKCOVER

Facility fee waived for eligible WorkCover Queensland patients. Walk in with your employer's details.

 

DEFENCE & DVA

Facility fee waived for eligible ADF personnel and DVA White Card holders. Please advise our team on arrival.

Frequently Asked Questions