The Australian Government is delivering on its commitment to Albury residents, with a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC) opened at the Border General Practice on David Street.
All services are fully bulk billed and provided by highly trained doctors and nurses, with no need for an appointment.
The clinic will be opened extended hours and has been seeing patients from the end of July, easing pressure on Albury Wodonga Health.
Almost half of all presentations to New South Wales hospital emergency departments and Albury Wodonga Health are for semi- and non-urgent conditions.
The Albury clinic is one of the 14 Medicare UCCs across New South Wales - located in Batemans Bay, Blacktown, Campbelltown, Cessnock, Coffs Harbour, Gosford, Lismore, Penrith, Randwick, Tamworth, Westmead, Wollongong and Wyong.
The Medicare UCCs are easing this pressure, so hospitals can concentrate on higher-priority emergencies.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
"The Medicare UCC at Border General Practice is a game changer for locals, making sure they can get the urgent care they need without spending hours in a hospital waiting room.
"Patients will be able to walk in, see a doctor or nurse and access a range of health care, such as imaging and pathology services.
"We've worked closely with the New South Wales Government and the Murray Primary Health Network to ensure the Medicare UCCs align with local health services and the needs of communities across the state.
"The Albury Medicare UCC is just another way the Government is strengthening Medicare and making it easier to see a doctor."
Quotes attributable to Senator O'Neill:
"We know how difficult it can be to access medical care when people have a pressing health concern.
"Most people in this situation end up in the emergency department, and can wait hours to see a doctor, get stitches, or an X-ray.
"Our Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are an important missing link in the health system - giving people timely access to care and reducing pressure on the hospital system.
"The new Medicare UCC in Albury will ease the pressure on the Albury Wodonga Health emergency department, so that its hard-working doctors and nurses can focus on higher-priority emergencies and life-saving care."
