The recently opened Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) in Thuringowa Central is boosting patient care and taking pressure off the local University Hospital.
Since opening in December last year, the highly trained doctors and nurses at the clinic have seen over 1,100 patients, averaging more than 30 visits per day.
Almost 30 per cent of visits were from people under 15 and almost one in 6 people treated were under 5 years old.
Almost 30 per cent of visits have taken place on the weekend, and over 1 in 3 visits have been at 5 pm or later.
Over 80 per cent of patients who received care at the Townsville Medicare UCC safely returned home rather than needing to be referred onto other local services or the University Hospital.
Since the Albanese Government’s first Medicare UCC opened its doors in June last year there have been over 143,000 visits to clinics across the country.
With 58 Medicare UCCs in operation – including 11 in Queensland – Australians now have better access to free healthcare and hospitals are seeing fewer non-urgent cases.
This includes relieving pressure off the Townsville University Hospital with almost 70 per cent of patients who attended the UCC saying they would otherwise have presented to emergency.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister, Emma McBride:
“The Townsville Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is making a real difference, delivering improved access to health services for local residents.
“Instead of waiting for hours in a hospital emergency department locals are now get the urgent care they need when they need it.
“Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are the answer, offering bulk-billed, walk-in, quality care for urgent but not life-threatening health issues.”