THE HON MARK BUTLER MP

MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE

DAN REPACHOLI MP

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR HUNTER

MEDIA RELEASE

PROVIDER SELECTED FOR CESSNOCK MEDICARE URGENT CARE CLINIC

The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment to the residents of the Hunter with All Ways Healthcare, supported by ForHealth being selected as the provider for the Cessnock Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC), following an Expression of Interest process.

The Cessnock Medicare UCC, which will start seeing patients in September, delivers on the Albanese Government’s commitment to make it easier for Hunter residents to get the urgent treatment they need– from highly qualified doctors and nurses – while taking pressure off the Cessnock Hospital.

The Medicare UCC will be open for extended hours, seven days a week, and offer walk-in care that is fully bulk billed.

More than 60 per cent of presentations to Cessnock Hospital emergency department are for non-urgent or semi-urgent care.

The Cessnock clinic is one of 14 Medicare UCCs that will be established across New South Wales – located in Albury, Batemans Bay, Blacktown, Campbelltown, Coffs Harbour, Gosford, Lismore, Penrith, Randwick, Tamworth, Westmead, Wollongong and Wyong.

The Australian Government will continue to work closely with the Primary Health Networks and New South Wales Government and to deliver the remaining Medicare UCCs, all of which will open this year.

Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:

“The Cessnock Medicare UCC will make a big difference to local patients who will be able to walk in during extended hours and receive convenient, high-quality care from a nurse or a doctor.

“The clinic will ease pressure on Cessnock Hospital, so that its hard-working doctors and nurses can focus higher priority emergencies.

“We’ve worked closely with the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network and New South Wales Government to ensure the Medicare UCCs align with local health services and the needs of communities across the state.

“The Cessnock Medicare UCC is just another way the Government is strengthening Medicare and making it easier to see a doctor.”

Quotes attributable to Dan Repacholi Member for Hunter:

“I know many families in the Cessnock region who have had to wait long hours at Cessnock Hospital emergency department for non-life-threatening issues, like stitches or an X-ray.

“The Cessnock Medicare UCC will ease pressure on our local ED and be much more convenient for our community – closer to home, at short notice, and bulk billed under Medicare.