More Tasmanians will be able to access free urgent medical care closer to home with the provider selected for the Bridgewater Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC).
Following a tender process, led by the Tasmanian Government and Primary Health Tasmania, the provider of the Bridgewater Medicare UCC will be located at Jordan River Health at 9-11 Hurst Street, Bridgewater.
Opening in November, the new Bridgewater Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will reduce pressure on the Royal Hobart Hospital, where 36 per cent of presentations were for semi-urgent or non-urgent matters in 2022-23, as well as giving Tasmanians living in Hobart's northern suburbs another option for their urgent health care needs.
The Bridgewater Medicare UCC will offer walk-in care, seven days a week, for extended hours.
It will be equipped to treat a range of urgent, but not life threatening, conditions and injuries. This could include a cut, viral infection, rash or sprained ankle.
Importantly, like all Medicare UCCs this clinic is completely bulk billed, meaning more people can access high-quality care quickly, at no cost - all they'll need is their Medicare card.
The Bridgewater Medicare UCC will join four existing clinics in Tasmania, including Devonport, Launceston, Hobart (Liverpool Street) and Hobart (Bathurst Street).
These clinics have seen almost 50,000 presentations to date. More than 1 in 4 of these visits have been children under the age of 15.
During weekdays, over 1 in 3 visits have taken place after 5pm, and more than one in four visits occurred on the weekend.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
"The Bridgewater Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is going to make a big difference to those living in the northern suburbs.
"Already the Tasmanian Medicare UCCs have had almost 50,000 visits.
"Importantly it's giving families an option of urgent care instead of spending hours in emergency departments.
"The Bridgewater Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will be open seven days, extended hours and all Tasmanians will need is their Medicare card, not their credit card."
Quotes attributable to Brian Mitchell MP, Member for Lyons:
"I strongly made the case for the people of Bridgewater to have an alternative option than driving into the city for non-emergency medical situations, which will also benefit the surrounding areas of Brighton, Derwent Valley and Glenorchy.
"The new clinic in at Jordan River Health will fill gaps in health services and deliver for local people who need medical help quickly but aren't a high priority in a busy emergency department.
"With no appointment needed and fully bulk billed, the walk-in clinic is very positive news for the people of the northern suburbs."
