The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment to Bundaberg locals with a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC) provider selected following an Expression of Interest process.
The Indigenous Wellbeing Centre on Barolin Street in Walkervale will be established as the Bundaberg Medicare UCC and will start seeing patients from late November 2023.
The Bundaberg Medicare UCC will deliver on the Australian Government's commitment to make it easier for people in Queensland to get the urgent treatment they need - from highly qualified doctors and nurses - while taking pressure off the nearby Bundaberg Hospital.
The Medicare UCC will be open for extended hours, 7 days a week, and offer walk-in care that is fully bulk billed for everyone.
Over 41 per cent of presentations to the Bundaberg Hospital are for non-urgent or semi-urgent care.
The Bundaberg clinic is one of 11 Medicare UCCs being established across Queensland - located in Cairns, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Northern Brisbane, Murrumba Downs, Rockhampton, Southern Brisbane, Toowoomba and Townsville. The Australian Government will continue to work closely with Primary Health Networks and the Queensland Government to deliver the remaining Medicare UCCs, all of which will open this year.
Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:
"All around Bundaberg and the surrounding areas, when Queenslanders need urgent care that isn't life threatening - the Bundaberg Medicare UCC in Walkerville will be here to help.
"Prior to the election last year, we committed to rolling out 50 new Urgent Care Clinics across the country.
When we complete our rollout - we'll have exceeded our target and there'll be 58 centres giving Australians urgent care, taking pressure off emergency departments all over the country."
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
"The Bundaberg Medicare UCC will make a big difference to patients in the region who will be able to walk in seven days a week and get free urgent care from a nurse or a doctor.
"The clinic will ease pressure on Bundaberg Hospital, so that its hard-working doctors and nurses can focus higher priority emergencies.
"The Bundaberg Medicare UCC is just another way the Government is strengthening Medicare and making it easier to see a doctor."
Quotes attributable to Minister Fentiman:
"We know that our state is experiencing exponential growth, and it's great to see the Albanese Government providing free healthcare options for Queenslanders.
"Urgent Care Clinics are designed to take pressures off our health system and GPs by being an accessible and community-based alternative to busy hospitals.
"I'm thrilled that the Bundaberg community who will soon have this wonderful clinic open and available for their urgent health needs."
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister Chisholm:
"This new Medicare UCC will offer high-quality care for residents in the Bundaberg region who need to see a medical professional for a health issue that is urgent and requires treatment but is not life-threatening and doesn't require attending the emergency department.
"The Bundaberg Medicare UCC will ease pressure on emergency departments and offer more convenient care for the local community - closer to home, at short notice, and free under Medicare.
"As the Wide Bay Burnett region continues to grow, that means more demand for local hospitals. Our government is committed to delivering the health services that regional Queensland needs to improve waiting times and protect lives.
"This is another example of the Albanese Labor Government delivering for Queensland's rapidly growing regions."
