The federal Labor government has vowed to open an extra 50 bulk billing urgent care clinic by mid-2026 if it secures a second term at the upcoming election.
The election pledge means most Australians could be living within 20 minutes of a Medicare clinic, Labor has claimed.
The $644m plan aims to deliver extra clinics in every state and territory, however, while the government has released a list of target areas the final sites would be decided independently.
Ahead of the last federal election, Labor announced plans for 50 Medicare urgent care clinics before going on to open 87 in government.
Once the new clinics were operating, about 80% of Australians would live within a 20 minute drive of one of 137 facilities, the government said, citing Department of Health and Aged Care analysis.
So far, more than 1.2 million people have received care at the existing clinics, the government said.
Medicare urgent care clinics offer free care by GPs or nurses for non-life-threatening conditions or injuries and operate seven days a week for extended hours. They were initially set up to take pressure off public hospitals.
Treatment is offered for minor injuries (like cuts, basic fractures, burns, suturing and bandaging and foreign objects in ears, nose or throat) and minor illnesses (like bronchitis, rashes, gastro, first trimester pregnancy bleeding or ear, nose, throat and eye infections). One in three patients are under the age of 15 at the exisiting clinics.
“This announcement of 50 additional urgent care clinics, if we are re-elected, will provide the urgent care people need – and all you will need is your Medicare card, not your credit card,” the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said on Saturday night.
The government has been emphasising health announcements in the lead up to Albanese announcing the election date. The election must be held by 17 May but could happen as early as mid-April.
The government said that funding for the latest commitment of urgent care clinics was provided in the 2024-25 mid-year budget update.
Labor last weekend promised 18m extra bulk-billed GP visits a year as part of an $8.5bn investment in Medicare.
Described by the government as the “single largest investment in Medicare since its creation” more than four decades ago, the policy pledge also included more than 400 nursing scholarships and 2,000 doctors through new general practice training programs.
The proposed new sites for the urgent care clinics are:
NSW (14)
Bathurst, Bega, Burwood, Chatswood, Dee Why, Green Valley and surrounds, Maitland, Marrickville, Nowra, Rouse Hill, Shellharbour, Terrigal, Tweed Valley and Windsor
Victoria (12)
Bayside, Clifton Hill, Coburg, Diamond Creek and surrounds, Lilydale, Pakenham, Somerville, Stonnington, Sunshine, Torquay, Warrnambool and Warragul
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Queensland (10)
Brisbane, Buderim, Burpengary, Cairns, Caloundra, Capalaba, Carindale, Gladstone, Greenslopes and surrounds and Mackay
Western Australia (6)
Bateman, Ellenbrook, Geraldton, Mirrabooka, Mundaring and Yanchep
South Australia (3)
East Adelaide, Victor Harbour and Whyalla
Tasmania (3)
Burnie, Kingston and Sorell
Northern Territory (1)
Darwin
ACT (1)
Woden Valley
