The Australian Government is delivering on its commitment to open a further 50 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, including 3 in Tasmania.
The Tasmanian Primary Health Network will be commencing a tender process from to identify suitable providers to operate clinics in Burnie, Kingston and Sorell.
This tender process will be open to general practices, community health centres and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.
These new clinics will give more Tasmanians access to high quality and free walk-in urgent health care.
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are open over extended hours, seven days a week, with no appointment needed and are fully bulk billed.
Ninety Medicare Urgent Care Clinics have opened across Australia, which have already seen more than 1.8 million presentations since the first sites opened in June 2023. This includes over 100,000 presentations to Tasmanian Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.
The five existing clinics in Tasmania are taking pressure off local hospitals and filling an important gap in services across extended hours and over the weekend.
Over one in four visits to Tasmanian Medicare Urgent Care Clinics have taken place on a weekend, while one in three weekday visits took place at 5pm or later.
And with one in four visits treating a young person under 15, Tasmanian Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are giving families timely health care and peace of mind.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
"I know Tasmanians have been a game changer for their communities.
"Over 100,000 Tasmanians have visited one of the five Urgent Care Clinics, taking pressure off local hospitals.
"Medicare Urgent Care Clincs are keeping people out of emergency waiting rooms and delivering high quality health care - at no cost to patients - across extended hours and every day of the week."
Quotes attributable to Minister Collins:
"The Albanese Labor Government went to the election promising three more Medicare Urgent Care Clinics for Tasmania and we are moving quickly to deliver on this commitment.
"Our Government knows that Medicare UCC's have become a vital part of Tasmania's health system.
"Delivering more Medicare Urgent Care Clinics is just one way in the Albanese Labor Government is strengthening Medicare, including delivering cheaper medicines, more free GP visits and more mental health clinics."
Quotes attributable to Rebecca White MP, Member for Lyons:
"The Sorell community campaigned strongly for our own free Medicare Urgent Care Clinic during the election and now Labor is getting on with delivering it.
"This will save a long drive and wait in the hospital emergency department for things like cuts, burns or breaks.
"Already, we know that 1 in 4 patients at Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are kids, this will give piece of mind to families in the area having more free healthcare, close to home."
Quotes attributable to Anne Urquhart MP, Member for Braddon:
"The Burnie Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will be great for locals and it will take pressure off the NW Regional Hospital.
"We have seen the great success of the Devonport Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, which has delivered over 25,000 free appointments since opening in December 2023.
"Now it's Burnie's turn to shine."
