A fourth urgent care clinic will open in Western Australia next month with the Lagoon Medical Centre to be established as the Cockburn Medicare UCC, following an Expression of Interest process.
This Medicare UCC delivers on the Albanese Government's commitment to make it easier for people in Western Australia to get the urgent treatment they need - from highly qualified doctors and nurses - while taking pressure off Fiona Stanley Hospital.
The Medicare UCCs will be open for extended hours, 7 days a week, and offer walk-in care that is fully bulk billed.
Approximately 40 per cent of presentations to the Fiona Stanley Hospital are for non-urgent or semi-urgent care.
This clinic joins the three clinics that are already operational in Perth, Rockingham and Joondalup, and will be soon joined by the final three clinics in Bunbury, Midland and Broome before the end of the year.
The Australian Government will continue to work closely with the WA Primary Health Alliance and the Western Australian Government to deliver the remaining Medicare UCCs, all of which will open this year.
Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:
"We're delivering Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across Australia - just like we promised at the election.
"These clinics mean West Australians who need urgent but not acute care, can get it quickly even if it's outside standard hours - and all they'll need is their Medicare card.
"We're committed to strengthening Medicare and making it easier and cheaper to get quality healthcare, by tripling the bulk billing incentive and making medicines cheaper."
Quotes attributable to Minister Mark Butler:
"The Cockburn Medicare UCC is going to make a big difference to local people. They will be able to walk in, see a doctor or nurse and access imaging and pathology services.
"This clinic will ease pressure on the Fiona Stanley Hospital, allowing them to concentrate on higher priority emergencies.
"There have been nearly 42,000 presentations to Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, including nearly 5,200 in Western Australia and every very single patient has been completely bulk billed.
Quotes attributable to the Member for Fremantle, Josh Wilson:
"The Cockburn Medicare UCC will mean people who need urgent but not acute care, can get it quickly even if it's outside standard hours - and all they'll need is their Medicare card.
"I know many families who have had to wait long hours at the emergency department for non-life-threatening issues.
"The Cockburn Medicare UCC will ease pressure on the Fiona Stanley. The UCC is well located on Beeliar Drive for the growing Cockburn community and will be more accessible and convenient- closer to home, can be accessed at short notice, and appointments will be bulk billed under Medicare."
