The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment to the people of Coffs Harbour, with the Coffs Harbour Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC) opening from 20 November 2023 at CHC Medical.
This Medicare UCC delivers on the Albanese Government’s commitment to make it easier for the people of Coffs Harbour to get the urgent treatment they need – from highly qualified doctors and nurses – while taking pressure off local hospitals.
The Coffs Harbour Medicare UCC will be open for extended hours, 7 days a week, and offer walk-in care that is fully bulk billed.
More than 45 per cent of presentations to the Coffs Harbour Hospital are for non-urgent or semi-urgent care.
Eight clinics are already operational in Albury, Cessnock, Maroubra, Penrith, Rooty Hill, Tamworth, Westmead, and Wollongong. The Coffs Harbour, Lismore and Peninsula clinics are all opening on 20 November, and will be soon joined by the final three New South Wales Medicare UCCs in Batemans Bay, Campbelltown and Lake Haven before the end of the year.
The Australian Government will continue to work closely with Primary Health Networks and the New South Wales Government to deliver the remaining Medicare UCCs.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
“The Coffs Harbour Medicare UCC is going to make a big difference to patients across the greater Coffs Harbour area.
“This clinic will ease pressure on the Coffs Harbour 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, by tripling the bulk billing incentive and making medicines cheaper.”
Quotes attributable to Senator Ayres:
“The Coffs Harbour Medicare UCC will mean people in this community 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.
“I know many families who have had to wait long hours at the emergency department for non-life-threatening issues.
“This Medicare UCC will ease pressure on local EDs and be much more convenient for our communities – closer to home, at short notice, and bulk billed under Medicare.
