Australians will soon have access to an additional 29 urgent care clinics as part of an $8.5 billion federal government investment in health in the upcoming budget.
Health Minister Mark Butler said the 58 existing urgent care clinics were already making a difference for patients needing walk-in medical treatment while taking pressure off busy hospital emergency departments.
Health Minister Mark Butler.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
He said the $227 million investment in a further 29 clinics would provide more care in more locations. The government is also providing further funding for clinics in regional, rural and remote locations.
“Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are already fulfilling their promise by making sure Australians can walk in and receive urgent care quickly and for free,” he said.
“The Albanese government is building on the UCC’s success by increasing the number of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics nationally from 58 to 87.”
Urgent care clinics, first announced as part of Labor’s election campaign in 2022, are designed to take on lower-urgency patients, and operate over extended weekday hours and weekends to ease pressure on the country’s hospital system.
The new $8.5 billion in health spending over the next four years also includes $49.1 million to increase the Medicare rebate for long gynecology appointments for women, which will provide access to 45-minute consultations under the Medicare Benefits Schedule from July 1.
Butler said the investment will provide about 430,000 consultations to women across the country with complex gynecological issues including endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome and chronic pelvic pain.
