The Albanese Government is delivering for residents in the Woden area with the opening of the Woden Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.
Located at 33 Colbee Court Phillip, the Woden Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is now open extended hours, seven days a week.
No appointment is needed, patients can walk in and all services are bulk billed.
The highly trained doctors and nurses are equipped to treat a range of conditions and injuries that need urgent attention but aren't life threatening, including cuts, viral infections, or a sprained ankle.
The Woden Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will ease pressure on the busy Canberra Hospital, where around 44 per cent of presentations in 2023-24 were for semi-urgent or non-urgent conditions.
The Woden clinic will be led by General Practitioners and complement the existing network of five Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across Canberra, including Gungahlin, Belconnen, Dickson, Weston Creek, and Tuggeranong. Around Australia, more than 100 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics have now been established.
This is part of the Albanese Government's commitment to deliver more Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across the country with 4 out of 5 Australians to live within a 20 minutes drive from their local clinic.
New data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows the Albanese Government's Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across Canberra are easing pressure on Canberra hospitals. Non-urgent presentations to Canberra emergency departments have dropped by 3.9 per cent.
Labor's Medicare Urgent Care Clinics have already seen more than 2.2 million presentations since the first sites opened in June 2023, including over 279,000 presentations to Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in the Australian Capital Territory.
The Woden Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is commissioned by the Capital Health Network, the Primary Health Network for the Australian Capital Territory.
Quotes attributable to Katy Gallagher, Senator for the ACT:
"Every Canberran deserves fast, free care when health issues can't wait but aren't life-threatening.
The new Woden Medicare Urgent Care Clinic delivers exactly that, walk in any day of the week, see a GP-led team, and get bulk-billed care without the stress of an emergency department visit.
This clinic will ease pressure on Canberra Hospital and give families the practical support they need, while strengthening Medicare right here in the ACT."
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
The Woden Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is a game changer for families in Canberra.
"The Woden Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will ease pressure on the emergency department at the Canberra Hospital and free up staff at the hospital to provide care to people with more serious conditions.
"This clinic is a key part of the Albanese Government's commitment to strengthen Medicare and make health care more accessible and affordable."
Quotes attributable to David Smith MP, Member for Bean:
"This GP lead clinic will make a real difference for locals by providing convenient, bulk billed urgent care right here in the heart of Woden.
"The opening of the clinic is a huge win for our community, taking the pressure off the emergency department at the Canberra Hospital.
"When doors open today, people will be able to walk in, get quality care, and head home without an ED wait or an out-of-pocket bill."
