The Albanese and Miles governments are delivering on their commitments to Townsville residents, with the Townsville Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC) opening on 18 December 2023 at Eastbrooke Family Clinic on Thuringowa Drive.
The Townsville Medicare UCC delivers on the Australian 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 35 per cent of presentations to the Townsville University Hospital are for non-urgent or semi-urgent care.
The Toowoomba and Townsville Medicare UCCs are additional clinics established as a result of the strong collaboration between the Commonwealth and Queensland Government under the Primary Care Pilots program.
The Australian Government will continue to work closely with Primary Health Networks and the Queensland Government to support Medicare UCCs in Queensland.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
“The Townsville Medicare UCC will mean locals 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.
“This clinic will ease pressure on the Townsville University 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 Minister Fentiman:
“I’m so proud that the Queensland Government helped to deliver this facility, which will treat urgent, but not life-threatening, conditions and illnesses.
“These clinics have been designed to support our fast-growing communities and will help take pressure off our busy public hospital system.
“This is another example of the Albanese and Queensland governments delivering for Queensland.”
Quotes attributable to Senator Green:
“Townsville families deserve free, high-quality health care close to home – and that’s exactly what the new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will provide.
“I know many Townsville families who have had to wait long hours at the emergency department for non-life-threatening issues.
“This Medicare UCC will ease pressure on the local ED and be much more convenient for our community – closer to home, at short notice, and bulk billed under Medicare.”
Quotes attributable to Aaron Harper MP, Member for Thuringowa:
“This fantastic new clinic is all about delivering world-class healthcare, closer to home for locals in Townsville.
“I’ve advocated strongly for better urgent care for our community, and I’m beyond thrilled to see this Medicare Urgent Care Clinic opening to the public today.
“It’s wonderful to work with the Federal Albanese Government to deliver for Queensland, unlike the LNP who do nothing but cut, sack and sell at all levels of government.”
Quotes attributable to Les Walker MP, Member for Mundingburra:
“We’re already in the process of delivering an expansion to our Townsville University Hospital and Kirwan Community Health facility.
“Now, Townsville locals will have access to a free, urgent care clinic right here at the Eastbrooke Family Medical Centre.
“It’s great to see our Federal Albanese Government standing up for Queensland, after 10 years of LNP cuts and neglect.”
