The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment to the people of the Northern Rivers with a provider for the Lismore Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC) finalised, following an Expression of Interest process.
Lismore GP Super Clinic will be established as the Lismore Medicare UCC and is expected to start seeing patients on 20 November 2023.
This Medicare UCC delivers on the Albanese Government’s commitment to make it easier for people in New South Wales to get the urgent treatment they need – from highly qualified doctors and nurses – while taking pressure off the Lismore Base Hospital.
The Medicare UCC will be open 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 Lismore Base Hospital are for non-urgent or semi-urgent care.
This clinic will join eight clinics that are already operational in Albury, Blacktown, Cessnock, Penrith, Randwick, Tamworth, Westmead, and Wollongong. More clinics will open over the coming weeks and all clinics will be open before the end of the year.
The Albanese 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 Lismore Medicare UCC is going to make a big difference to patients in the Northern Rivers.
“Locals will be able to walk in, see a doctor or nurse and access imaging and pathology services.
“This clinic will ease pressure on the Lismore 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, by tripling the bulk billing incentive and making medicines cheaper.
Quotes attributable to Senator McAllister:
“The Lismore Medicare UCC will mean people 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.
“Many families have had to wait long hours at the emergency department for non-life-threatening issues. Open seven days a week, this UCC will make a real difference to Lismore local families.
“This Medicare UCC will ease pressure on Lismore Base ED and mean more Medicare bulk-billed access to services at shorter notice.”
