People in Hobart will now have access to fully bulk billed urgent care, with a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC) opening at Your Hobart Doctor on Bathurst Street.
The clinic will be open extended hours, seven days a week, easing pressure on Royal Hobart Hospital. Highly trained doctors and nurses will provide care, with no need for an appointment.
The Hobart clinic is one of the four Medicare UCCs across Tasmania – located in Launceston, North West region and two in Hobart.
More than 45 per cent of all presentations to Tasmanian hospital emergency departments and more than 40 per cent of presentations at Royal Hobart Hospital emergency department are for semi- and non-urgent conditions.
The Hobart Medicare UCC delivers on the Australian and Tasmanian Governments’ commitment to make it easier for the community to get the urgent treatment they need while taking pressure off hospitals.
The provider for the second Hobart Medicare UCC has been finalised with Ochre Medical Centre to become operational in October this year.
The Australian and Tasmanian Governments are working closely to ensure the Hobart Medicare UCC complements local health services and meets the needs of the community.
Read more about Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
“The Hobart Medicare UCC is one of 58 the Australian Government is establishing across Australia – four of them right here in Tasmania.
“The Hobart Medicare UCC will make a big difference to patients, and enable families to walk in and receive convenient, high-quality care from a nurse or a doctor.
“When you have a deep cut, or when your child breaks their arm, you can head straight to the clinic rather than spend hours in the hospital waiting room.
“We’ve worked closely with the Tasmanian Government to ensure the Medicare UCCs align with local health services and the needs of communities across the state.”
Quotes attributable to Minister Barnett:
“The Tasmanian Government has contributed more than $2.6 million over the next three years towards the rollout of Medicare UCCs in Tasmania.
“We are committed to investing in innovative solutions to ensure Tasmanians get the right health care, in the right place, at the right time.
“The Hobart Medicare UCC will ease pressure on our local ED and be much more convenient for our community – closer to home, at short notice, and free under Medicare.”
Quotes attributable to Minister Collins:
“This Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will ensure local families can get bulk billed care when they need it, without an appointment.
“It will help take pressure off the Royal Hobart Hospital and its hard-working doctors and nurses, so that they can focus on higher-priority emergencies and life-saving care.”