The Albanese Labor Government continues to deliver on its commitment to Queenslanders, with the Cairns South Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC) having seen more than 4,000 presentations in its first four months of operation.
Assistant Minister McCarthy visited the Cairns South Medicare Clinic today, based in Edmonton at the Balance! Edmonton Family Practice. The Clinic is part of the network of 58 Medicare UCCs established across Australia in 2023, as part reforms to the health system to strengthen Medicare.
The Cairns South Medicare UCC is making it easier for the local community to access care for urgent, but not life threatening, conditions. Of the more than 4,000 visits to date, almost 30% have taken place on weekends.
The Cairns South Medicare UCC is open seven days a week, with extended hours and offers walk-in care that is fully bulk billed.
Medicare UCCs are equipped to treat a range of conditions and injuries, from dog bites, lacerations, and foot and hand injuries to falls, sporting accidents, and viral infections.
Across all Medicare UCCs, the largest proportion of patients have been children, with over 1 in 4 visits from patients aged under 15 years old. Of visits that have taken place on weekdays, almost 1 in 4 have occurred after 5pm.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister McCarthy:
"The Albanese Labor Government has already made enormous strides in strengthening Medicare and Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are just one way that we are making it easier to access urgent medical assistance.
"In just four months, the Cairns South Medicare UCC has already seen 4,000 presentations that would have otherwise put more pressure on Emergency Departments.
"You should not have to live in a big city to access the support and services, where and when you need. We will continue to invest in local, affordable healthcare for all Australians."
