The Batemans Bay Medicare Urgent Care Clinic has celebrated its first birthday with the news that 10,200 people have visited the facility since the doors opened.

Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips said the number of bulk-billed visits for urgent, but non-life-threatening care, reflected the ongoing need for the clinic that she lobbied for and delivered.

“It’s fantastic to see how the people of Batemans Bay and surrounds have embraced this free service which is available seven days a week,” she said.

“As we celebrate 12 months since the doors opened, I really want to thank the wonderful staff at the Urgent Care Clinic who treat everything from broken arms to tummy aches, when people need it.

“They’re providing essential care and taking the pressure off our hospital and local doctors.”

Mrs Phillips said she was pleased the clinic would be open from 8am until 8pm over the summer holidays.

“With the influx of visitors to our region, it’s really great that, from 16 December to mid-February, the clinic will be open extended hours to cater for those non-life-threatening holiday incidents,” she said.

“As a mum I know how difficult it can be waiting for treatment at the hospital ED with an injured child after they’ve fallen off their bike or skateboard.

“We’ve heard from so many parents how great the care at the clinic has been, especially on weekends.”

Mrs Phillips said she would like to see the hours extended further, and made permanent, and for care levels to be increased at the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.

She has launched a petition and has encouraged people to jump onto her website and sign it.

“I’ve had a fantastic response to my petition, and my call for longer hours and a higher level of care is something the community is really getting behind,” Mrs Phillips said.

Comments about the UCC include:

• Dinah from Broulee- "I have used the urgent care clinic three times and all those visits were of an urgent nature when my own GP was not available."
• Keith from Mossy Point – "I strongly support this petition to upgrade and improve the availability of service at the Batemans Bay Urgent Care Clinic.”
• Glenn from Broulee - "I have used the Batemans Bay Urgent Care Clinic and it is an excellent thing to have, but would be made more useful if its hours and level of care were extended."
• Elizabeth from Surf Beach – "I have had cause to access the services at Batemans Bay Urgent Care Clinic on 2 occasions in 2024 where I was faced with a 12 day wait to see my GP. I was very impressed with the level of care I received and strongly support ongoing services there with extended hours."
• David from Denhams Beach - "It is a complete necessity to have the Emergency Care in Batemans Bay for an extended timeframe every day due to the ageing demographic of the population, its holiday capacity/needs and the distance to Moruya Hospital."
• Sonja from Malua Bay - "The upgrade will assist with afterhours care of my family and especially my 3 grandchildren who live with me."
• Angelo from Surfside - "We are a big town growing every day. We need a urgent medical care clinic to service the community "
• Jennifer from Sunshine Bay - "Please keep up your campaigning to extend services at our Clinic. Thank you."
• Danica from Long Beach  - "The clinic is not a luxury, but a necessity!"

Photo: Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips joined the Batemans Bay Urgent Care Clinic team to celebrate the facility’s first birthday.

Media contact: Katrina Condie 0437 662 967