Hon Mark Butler MP

Minister for Health

Dan Repacholi MP

Member for Hunter

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

BUDGET DELIVERS CESSNOCK MEDICARE URGENT CARE CLINIC

The Hunter is a big winner in the 2022-23 October Budget with Cessnock confirmed as of one of 50 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across Australia.

The Urgent Care Clinic will make it easier for locals to get high quality care for urgent, but non-life threatening health issues.

These new Urgent Care Clinics will be open extended business hours, seven days week to provide the care you and your family need, with no out of pocket costs to patients.

This new clinic will take pressure off of our local emergency department, leaving overworked doctors and nurses available to attend to more serious and life-threatening cases.

The clinic will be established as part of an existing GP clinic or community health centre in the Hunter electorate and is expected to be operational from 2023-24.

Urgent Care Clinics are part of a $2.9 billion package announced in the Albanese Government’s Budget to rebuild Australia’s primary health care system, take pressure off hospitals, and increase affordability and access to care for all Australians.

The Australian Government is providing $235 million for the 50 clinics, including $100 million to codevelop and pilot innovative models with states and territories to improve care pathways and inform program roll out.

Consultation with the health sector, Primary Health Networks and state and territory governments has commenced to ensure the clinics and developed to respond to the local needs of our community and are integrated with existing emergency department diversion initiatives and will meet the needs of the Hunter electorate.

Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:

“After almost a decade of the former Government’s cuts and neglect, it has never been harder to see a doctor at short notice.”

“Dan has passionately advocated for the Hunter electorate to be included in the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic roll out.”

“This will make it easier for locals to see a doctor, and let our hospitals focus on more serious cases.”

Quotes attributable to Dan Repacholi MP:

“Getting access to health care is at the top of the list of concerns when I talk to locals in the Hunter electorate.”

“This clinic will help with minor emergencies, like when your kid falls off their skateboard and breaks their arm or you have a very deep cut that needs stitching.”

“The Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is very welcome. It will fill a major gap in primary health care in the Hunter electorate.”