Tamworth Medicare Urgent Care Clinic provider confirmed

Northwest Health is confirmed as the provider of Tamworth’s soon-to-be opened Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC).

Identified through a comprehensive tender process run by Hunter New England and Central Coast (HNECC) Primary Health Network, the announcement came during a visit to Tamworth by the Prime Minister, the Hon. Anthony Albanese MP.

Medicare UCCs will operate extended business hours, accept walk-in patients, and provide bulk-billed services resulting in no out-of-pocket cost to the patient.

HNECC Primary Health Network Chief Executive Officer Richard Nankervis said Northwest Health’s East Tamworth Medical Centre in Marius Street will begin seeing patients at the new Medicare UCC in October this year.

“The PHN is pleased to partner with Northwest Health to provide the Tamworth community an alternative primary health care service that will help ease the pressure on the local Emergency Department,” he said.

“By establishing a Medicare UCC co-located with its Medical Centre, Northwest Health is delivering much needed care for people with urgent but not life-threatening medical conditions.”

“Northwest Health has been providing primary care to the region since 2006. It’s team of GPs, practice nurses, management and support staff provide a professional and caring environment to deliver high quality, best practice general medicine to families and individuals.”

“The PHN welcomes the commitment made by Northwest Health to ensure the people of Tamworth and the region have access to urgent care services when they need them. Importantly, the Northwest Health UCC team will link back to each patient’s regular GP to confirm the treatment provided and ensure continuity of care.”

The clinic is part of the Australian Government’s commitment to establish 58 Medicare UCCs across Australia, including 14 in New South Wales (NSW).

In addition to Tamworth the HNECC Primary Health Network will be commissioning an additional three Medicare UCCs by the end of 2023 in Cessnock, Gosford and Wyong.