EOI now open for Newcastle - Lake Macquarie Medicare Urgent Care Clinic

Accredited General Practices and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie LGAs are advised that an Expression of Interest is now open for the establishment of a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.

The 2024-25 Budget confirmed a further investment of $227 million in the Medicare UCC Program. An additional 29 Medicare UCCs were announced, bringing the total number to 87 Medicare UCCs open across the country, offering walk-in care, seven days a week over extended hours, completely bulk billed.

One Medicare UCC will be established in the Newcastle or Lake Macquarie LGA. This is in addition to the four Medicare Urgent Care Clinics already commissioned by Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network.

UCCs are a new model of care designed to reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments (EDs) and give Medicare card holders more options to see a healthcare professional when they have an urgent but not life-threatening need for care. They will be GP led with a multidisciplinary staffing mix.

It is expected that UCCs will be based in existing general practices or ACCHS where access to pharmacy, radiology and pathology services are readily available or located in close proximity. UCCs will be available after normal business hours and on weekends/ public holidays and be at no out-of-pocket cost to the patient.

View the EOI form.