The Albanese Government's network of 58 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics have made it easier for hundreds of thousands of Australians to get urgent care from a doctor or nurse, without waiting for hours in busy hospital emergency departments.
Already there have been over 250,000 visits to Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across the country since the rollout began in June 2023 and the final clinics opened late last year.
Almost 30 per cent of visits have been for parents and carers seeking urgent care for children under 15 years old.
Almost 30 per cent of presentations in most jurisdictions have taken place over the weekend and around one in four weekday visits occurred after 5pm.
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics allow people to access care outside of standard hours, providing an alternative to emergency departments for urgent but not life-threatening care.
They are equipped to treat a range of conditions and injuries, from lacerations, rashes, ear infections and foot and hand injuries to viral infections.
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are open seven days a week, extended hours and offer walk-in care that is fully bulk billed.
The Albanese Government's network of Urgent Care Clinics includes 14 clinics in New South Wales, 10 in Victoria, 11 in Queensland, 7 in Western Australia, 5 in South Australia, 4 in Tasmania, 5 in the ACT, and 2 in the NT.
To find a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic near you, visit: https://www.health.gov.au/find-a-medicare-ucc
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
"Medicare Urgent Care Clinics continue to fulfill their promise of high quality, accessible, walk-in care for hundreds of thousands of Australians.
"Reaching the milestone of 250,000 visits to Medicare Urgent Care Clinics means hundreds of thousands of people got the urgent care they needed, without waiting for hours in a hospital emergency department - and all they needed is their Medicare card.
"It is great to see clinics providing better access to care for patients in need of urgent medical assistance outside of regular business hours, with around one in four weekday visits after 5pm.
"As a key part of the Albanese Government's investments in strengthening Medicare, these clinics continue to make a significant difference to patients, to communities and to hospital emergency departments across the country."
