The Albanese Government is strengthening Medicare to deliver a better, fairer and stronger health system and responsible cost of living relief.
In just over 12 months, the network of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics has achieved an historic milestone with more than 500,000 free visits across the country.
Half a million presentations since the Albanese Government established the first clinics in June 2023, with Australians receiving treatment for a range of conditions and injuries that are urgent, but not life-threatening.
The milestone coincides with the announcement of the latest Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, which will be established in the New South Wales area of Queanbeyan, near to the Australian Capital Territory border.
The Brindabella Family Practice, on Morisset Street, was selected to be the Queanbeyan Medicare Urgent Care Clinic through a process led by the New South Wales Government.
The Clinic will open later this month, offering free walk-in care, seven days a week, over extended hours, providing urgent medical care to locals on both sides of the border.
It will reduce pressure on the Queanbeyan District Hospital where, in 2022-23, over 70 per cent of presentations were for semi-urgent or non-urgent matters.
The Queanbeyan clinic is one of the 29 additional clinics to be established through a $227 million national expansion announced as part of the 2024-25 Budget, adding to the 58 clinics already operating.
There are 16 Medicare UCCs now operating in New South Wales, located in: Albury, Batemans Bay, Campbelltown, Cessnock, Coffs Harbour, Lake Haven, Lismore, Liverpool, Maroubra, Peninsula (Gosford), Penrith, Rooty Hill, Ryde, Tamworth, Westmead, and Wollongong.
There have been more than 87,000 visits in New South Wales, with:
- Almost 1 in 4 by children under 15;
- More than 1 in 4 taking place at the weekend; and
- 1 in 5 weekday visits taking place after 5pm.
Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:
"Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are providing the urgent care people need, and all they need it their Medicare card, not their credit card.
"Every day they're taking the pressure off busy hospital emergency departments.
"Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are a key way we're making Medicare stronger, ensuring Australians have access to affordable care, when and where they need it."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler:
"Half a million visits proves what an impact our Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are having right around the country.
"In the Budget, we invested $227 million to open an additional 29 Clinics, to ensure that more Australians can get medical care when their need is urgent, but not life threatening.
"The Queanbeyan Urgent Care Clinic will help ensure locals on both sides of the border can get free, urgent care, when they need it and fully bulk billed, taking pressure off busy hospital emergency departments."
Quotes attributable to Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain:
"The Queanbeyan Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is going to make a big difference to residents in Queanbeyan, but also in the surrounding communities of Googong, Jerrabomberra and beyond.
"Instead of waiting for a non-life threatening issue at the emergency department, locals can receive treatment at this walk-in clinic, with no out of pocket costs.
"This Medicare UCC will ease pressure on the local emergency department and be much more convenient for our communities - closer to home, at short notice, and bulk billed under Medicare."
