An Expression of Interest (EOI) will be open for 14 new Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (Medicare UCCs) locations across metropolitan and regional New South Wales.
One of the new clinics will be established in the NSW South Coast town of Batemans Bay.
The Medicare UCCs will provide bulk billed treatment for urgent but non-life-threatening emergencies and will operate extended hours, seven days a week.
Non-life-threatening emergencies, such as Category 4 and 5 presentations, make up over 50% of the total presentations to hospitals in New South Wales.
The Medicare UCCs aim to provide timely, high-quality healthcare to patients, while also easing the pressure on hospitals in the state.
The NSW Government will collaborate with the relevant Primary Health Networks to establish Medicare UCCs in;
- Albury
- Batemans Bay
- Blacktown
- Campbelltown
- Cessnock
- Coffs Harbour
- Gosford
- Lismore
- Penrith
- Randwick
- Tamworth
- Westmead
- Wollongong
- Wyong
The EOI is open to existing general practices, community health centres, and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.
Providers who have applied in previous Expression of Interest processes in New South Wales do not need to re-apply but should engage with the relevant Primary Health Network.
The EOI will be open for submissions from March 2nd, 2023, until April 12th, 2023.
The Albanese Government will work closely with the NSW Government and NSW Primary Health Networks to deliver the new Medicare UCCs in the state, with a focus on improving access to healthcare services for all.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
“Our Medicare Urgent Care Clinics will allow families in New South Wales to get top-quality care from a nurse or a doctor without having to wait in a hospital emergency department.”
“Just over half of all presentations to emergency departments in NSWs are for non-life-threatening conditions, and that’s where Medicare UCCs will be so valuable.”
“Medicare UCCs are just one way the Albanese Government is strengthening Medicare and ensuring Australians get the medical care they need when they need it.”
Quotes attributable to Fiona Phillips:
"Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are a new model of care that will ease the pressure on our local hospitals and give local families more options to see a healthcare professional when they have an urgent, but not life-threatening, need for care,"
“I’ve been fighting to make it easier for the people of the NSW South Coast to access high quality healthcare, where and when they need it.”
“This new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will help to take the pressure off our local hospitals.”
“Our government is delivering on our promise to establish an Urgent Care Clinic at Batemans Bay.”
ENDS
2, MARCH, 2023
