The Australian Government is committed to establishing Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across Australia, to improve access to urgent care for local communities.
Six additional clinics for WA
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are at the heart of the Australian Government’s Strengthening Medicare agenda.
The initiative aims to enhance the availability of free urgent care and alleviate pressure on hospital emergency departments.
Additional clinics are now open across WA including:
- Booragoon and surrounding suburbs
- Ellenbrook and surrounding suburbs
- Geraldton and surrounding areas
- Mundaring and surrounding suburbs
- Nollamara and surrounding suburbs
- Yanchep and surrounding suburbs
Eight Medicare Urgent Care Clinics have already been established in Western Australia in the following locations:
- Morley and surrounding suburbs
- Rockingham and surrounding suburbs
- Clarkson and surrounding suburbs
- Beeliar and surrounding suburbs
- Bunbury and surrounding suburbs
- Midland and surrounding suburbs
- Broome and surrounding areas
- Gosnells and surrounding suburbs
WA Primary Health Alliance’s role
WA Primary Health Alliance coordinates the EOI processes and supports selected practices to establish their clinics.
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics must be partnered with a general practice that is accredited to a recognised and relevant standard such as the Royal Australian College of General Practitioner Standards for General Practice.
These clinics provide treatment for urgent, non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries needing same-day assessment for individuals who might otherwise go to an emergency department.
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are expected to be open fourteen hours a day, every day (including public holidays), offering bulk billed services and accept walk-in appointments.
While WAPHA seeks to understand each location’s local landscape, opportunities and challenges, the policy and operational guidance for Medicare Urgent Care Clinics is set by the Australian Government.
We will support the Medicare Urgent Care Clinics to become part of the existing health landscape in the place, building linkages between primary, acute and aged care, while respecting the operating and clinical models of local primary care providers.
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics – FAQs for health professionals.
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A Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will be equipped to treat problems including:
- Minor illnesses (including respiratory illness, gastrointestinal illness, urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted infections)
- Minor injuries including closed fractures, simple lacerations, simple eye injuries and minor burns
Urgent Care Clinics will be equipped to provide the following procedures:
- Wound management including gluing, suturing and dressings (including for minor burns)
- Incision and drainage of abscesses
- Basic fracture management including application of back slabs and plasters
- Intravenous cannula insertion to allow for IV antibiotics and IV rehydration fluids
- Urinary catheter management and changes for males and females
- Removal of foreign bodies from the ear and nose
No, patients can walk in during clinic opening hours. Some clinics may offer the option to book ahead online or by phone, but this is not required.
Health professionals can direct patients with urgent but non-life-threatening needs to their local Medicare Urgent Care Clinic. However, patients do not need a referral to attend a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.
Handover to a patient’s usual GP, if they nominate one, is part of the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic operating model.
Scope of services
- Medicare Urgent Care Clinics provide treatment for urgent, non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries needing same-day assessment for individuals who might otherwise visit an emergency department.
- Medicare Urgent Care Clinics do not provide routine care for patients with chronic conditions. However, they do treat acute exacerbations of chronic conditions when immediate intervention is necessary to prevent adverse outcome, including writing short term bridging prescriptions
- Medicare Urgent Care Clinics have access to a more limited range of MBS items, compared to a general practice. For example, they do not have access to chronic conditions MBS items.
Patient pathways and triage
- The majority of patients attending Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are category 4 and 5 GP type presentations which are within the scope set out by the Australian Government.
- Patients who cannot book an appointment with their usual GP within a timeframe that would prevent their condition deteriorating also benefit from the availability of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.
- Most patients who do not meet the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic treatment criteria are identified at triage and advised to seek treatment from a more appropriate provider (such as their usual GP).
- Medicare Urgent Care Clinics that operate within a general practice have processes in place to ensure patients are triaged and treated in the most appropriate setting.
Being a relatively new addition to the primary health care environment, the public needs ongoing education about when it is appropriate to use a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, as opposed to seeing a GP, or visiting an emergency department.
More public awareness campaigns are planned that will continue to build awareness among the public about what conditions are appropriate to be treated at a Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.
Resources for your practice, clinic or service
Some GPs choose to work in a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, due to the working conditions or the nature of the clinical practice.
In order to meet demand, many Medicare Urgent Care Clinics have implemented a flexible, multidisciplinary workforce model, with more GPs available at peak times.
Other urgent care clinics exist, outside of the Government’s Medicare Urgent Care Clinic program, with a variety of operating models and fee structures.
For employment opportunities, please visit the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic websites for contact details.
No, there are no current tender opportunities for Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.
Practices are encouraged to sign up for our Tender Notifications Portal to be alerted on EOIs and tenders.