The Albanese Labor Government’s network of 8 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics have made it easier for hundreds of thousands of Tasmanians to get free urgent care from a doctor or nurse.
There have now been over 200,000 free visits to Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across Tasmania since the first clinic opened in Launceston in June 2023.
More than one in four of those visits to Tasmanian Urgent Care Clinics have been on the weekend, and one in three weekday visits have been after 5pm.
We know that many Tasmanians who presented to an Urgent Care Clinic say they would have otherwise visited an Emergency Department at one of Tasmania’s hospitals.
The network of 8 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics is just one way the Albanese Labor Government is helping take press off Tasmanian hospitals which also includes:
- Additional $700 million in funding for Tasmania’s hospitals
- Improving access to bulk billing doctors across the state
We’ve made Urgent Care Clinics a permanent part of Medicare, because every Tasmanian should have access to free, quality healthcare close to home.
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics allow people to access care outside of standard hours, providing an alternative to emergency departments for urgent but not life-threatening care.
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are open seven days a week, extended hours and offer walk-in care that is fully bulk billed – all you need is your Medicare card.
To find a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic near you and what services they have available, visit: https://www.health.gov.au/find-a-medicare-ucc
Quotes attributable to Minister Collins:
“The sheer number of Tasmanians who have now visited a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in our state – enough to fill UTAS stadium more than 10 times – underscores just how serious our government is about improving healthcare.
“I am proud of the high quality, walk-in care that our state’s network of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics continue to deliver to Tasmanians.
“Reaching the milestone of 200,000 visits to Medicare Urgent Care Clinics means hundreds of thousands of Tasmanians got the urgent care they needed, without waiting for hours in a hospital emergency department – and all they needed is their Medicare card.
“Our investments into Medicare Urgent Care Clinics is just one way our government is strengthening Medicare, including making medicines cheaper and delivering more bulk billed GP visits.”
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister Rebecca White:
“For families across Tasmania, having access to free urgent care in their community can make a real difference, particularly when someone they love is unwell or injured.
“More than 200,000 visits shows the important role Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are playing in our communities across Tasmania, helping people get the care they need while easing pressure on our busy emergency departments.
“Labor created Medicare because we believe every Australian deservers access to quality and timely healthcare. We’re proud to keep strengthening Medicare, so it continues to deliver for families and communities in Tasmania.”
