The Federal Government is delivering on its pre-election promise of establishing 14 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (Medicare UCCs) state-wide, including two on the Central Coast, with expressions of interest (EOIs) now open.
The Medicare UCCs will provide bulk billed treatment for urgent but non-life-threatening emergencies and will be open for extended hours, seven days a week.
Member for Robertson Gordon Reid said the new clinics will help to take the pressure off both Wyong and Gosford emergency departments.
“As an emergency doctor practising in hospitals on the Central Coast, I know how important these Medicare Urgent Care Clinics will be for people accessing healthcare,” he said.
“Too many people on the Coast are unable to see a GP.
“Medicare Urgent Care Clinics will improve access to doctors that will bulk bill.
“I’ve been fighting to make it easier for the people on the Central Coast to access high quality healthcare, where and when they need it.”
Member for Dobell Emma McBride said the clinics will mean that someone will be able to walk in without an appointment and be bulk billed rather than having to end up in the emergency department.
“We know the emergency departments in both Wyong and Gosford were under strain before COVID, and that has only increased.”
Category 4 and 5 presentations, non-life-threatening emergencies, make up just over 50 per cent of the total presentations to hospitals in NSW.
The Medicare UCCs will help patients get timely, high-quality healthcare while easing pressuring on hospitals.
The EOI process will be run by the relevant NSW Primary Health Networks3, with submissions closing on April 12.
It is 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 NSW do not need to re-apply but should engage with the relevant Primary Health Network.
The Federal Government will continue to work closely with the NSW Government and NSW Primary Health Networks to deliver the UCCs.
Health Minister Mark Butler said the clinics will allow families to get top-quality care from a nurse or a doctor without having to wait in a hospital emergency department.
Source:
Media release, Mar 2
Member for Robertson Gordon Reid