The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment to Bundaberg residents, with the Bundaberg Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC) opening from 20 November 2023 at 184 Barolin Street, Walkervale.
This Medicare UCC delivers on the Albanese Government’s commitment to make it easier for people in Queensland to get the urgent treatment they need – from highly qualified doctors and nurses – while taking pressure off local hospitals.
The Medicare UCC will be open for extended hours, 7 days a week, and offer walk-in care that is fully bulk billed.
More than 40 per cent of presentations to Bundaberg Base Hospital are for non-urgent or semi-urgent care.
The Bundaberg clinic will join six clinics that are already operational in Queensland; Gold Coast, Ipswich, Logan (Browns Plains), Murrumba Downs (Redcliffe), South Brisbane and Toowoomba. The final four Queensland Medicare UCCs in Cairns, North Brisbane, Rockhampton and Townsville, will all open before the end of the year.
The Albanese Government will continue to work closely with Primary Health Networks and the Queensland Government to deliver the remaining Medicare UCCs.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
“The Bundaberg Medicare UCC will mean people on the Central Coast who need urgent but not acute care, can get it quickly even if it’s outside standard hours – and all they’ll need is their Medicare card.
“Locals will be able to walk in, see a doctor or nurse and access imaging and pathology services.
“This clinic will ease pressure on Bundaberg Base Hospital, allowing them to concentrate on higher priority emergencies.
“The Albanese Government is committed to strengthening Medicare and making it easier and cheaper to get quality healthcare through our Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, by tripling the bulk billing incentive and making medicines cheaper.”
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister Chisholm:
“This new Medicare UCC will offer high-quality care for residents in the Bundaberg region who need to see a medical professional for a health issue that is urgent and requires treatment, but is not life-threatening and doesn’t require attending the emergency department.
“The Bundaberg Medicare UCC will ease pressure on emergency departments, and offer more convenient care for the local community – closer to home, at short notice, and free under Medicare.
“As the Wide Bay Burnett region continues to grow, that means more demand for local hospitals. Our government is committed to delivering the health services that regional Queensland needs to improve waiting times and protect lives.
“This is another example of the Albanese Labor Government delivering for Queensland’s rapidly growing regions.”
Quotes attributable to Minister Fentiman:
“We know that our state is experiencing exponential growth, and it’s great to see the Albanese Government providing free healthcare options for Queenslanders.
“Urgent Care Clinics are designed to take pressures off our health system and GPs by being an accessible and community-based alternative to busy hospitals.
“I’m thrilled that the Bundaberg community will soon have this wonderful clinic open and available for their urgent health needs.”
