Medicare Urgent Care Clinic Update

With the recent Federal Budget confirming an additional investment of $227 million in Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (UCCs), it is worth reflecting on the performance of the four UCCs the PHN has commissioned to date. Our Medicare UCCs are open seven days a week, extended hours and offer walk-in care that is fully bulk billed for consumers eligible for Medicare.  

Over 25,000 presentations have been made to our clinics in Cessnock, Tamworth, Umina Beach and Lake Haven since the first opened its doors in October last year. That’s a combined average of 32 patients being seen at each clinic each day, most of the appointments being walk-ins.

UCCs have been introduced to provide a treatment pathway for people requiring care for urgent but not life-threatening medical conditions.

The most common presentations are for acute illnesses and acute injuries, with people in the 25-44 years age group recording the highest attendance rate at Lake Haven, Cessnock and Tamworth (5-15 years at Umina Beach).

Positive feedback is regularly received from patients in clinic, UCC clinical staff, local MPs, and by word of mouth.

The Medicare UCCs in the HNECC footprint are delivering on the Government’s commitment to make it easier for Medicare-eligible patients to get the urgent treatment they need whilst taking pressure off local hospitals.

A new UCC for the PHN

With the extension of the program in the recent Budget, a further 29 Medicare UCCs will join the program bringing the total number to 87 nationally.

The PHN has been allocated an additional clinic and will soon be seeking Expressions of Interest from existing accredited general practices within the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie LGAs.