The Australian Government is delivering for residents in Lake Macquarie and Newcastle with the opening of the Charlestown Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.
Located centrally at Charlestown Medical & Dental Centre, the Charlestown Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is now open extended hours, seven days a week.
No appointment is needed, patients can walk in and all services are bulk billed.
The highly trained doctors and nurses are equipped to treat a range of conditions and injuries that need urgent attention but aren't life threatening. This could include cuts, a viral infection or a sprained ankle.
The Charlestown Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will ease pressure on the busy John Hunter Hospital, where more than 35% of presentations were for semi- or non-urgent conditions in 2022-23.
Almost half of the presentations in the state have been outside standard business hours, which means the clinics are filling an important gap in services across extended hours and over the weekend.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
"The Charlestown Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is a game changer for families in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.
"Almost a third of all visits to Medicare UCCs in New South Wales are from people under 15, giving parents peace of mind that when their kids need urgent care they'll be seen.
"The Charlestown Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will ease pressure on the emergency department at John Hunter Hospital and free up staff at the hospital to provide care to people with more serious conditions."
Quotes attributable to the Member for Shortland, the Hon Pat Conroy MP:
"The Albanese Government is making sure people in our community can access free, high quality medical care when you need it - during the day, after school or work, and on weekends, without having to wait for an appointment or travel far.
"The Charlestown Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is completely bulk billed; all locals need is their Medicare card - not their credit card.
"Whether it's through establishing Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, saving the Hunter's GP Access After Hours service, or expanding the number of GPs who can practice here, the Albanese Government is working hard to improve the health outcomes of people in our community."
Quotes attributable to the Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon MP:
"This new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is a vital part of the Albanese Labor Government's ongoing commitment to improving healthcare accessibility across our region.
"The opening of this clinic builds on Labor's restoration of the GP Access After Hours Clinic at the Calvary Mater Hospital ensuring Novocastrians get the care they need quickly, efficiently, and at no cost, while taking demand off our local hospitals.
"We know there is still more work to do, and we are working hard every day to plug healthcare gaps across Newcastle and the Hunter."
Quotes attributable to the Member for Hunter, Dan Repacholi MP:
"Another new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, this time in Charlestown is fantastic news for families across the region.
"It ensures that people in Hunter and nearby areas can access the care they need quickly, without long waits or financial stress.
"The clinic will take the strain off emergency departments, making sure that everyone in our community can access high-quality healthcare at the right time and in the right place.
"This is yet another way the Albanese Government is delivering on its promise to strengthen Medicare and improve access to vital services for families in our region."
