By Jamie Furness
Two new Medicare Urgent Care Clinics have been announced for Inala and Redbank Plains, allowing locals to access care seven days a week over extended hours with no appointment required.
The clinics will be completely bulk billed, meaning more people can access high-quality care quickly and at no cost as long as they can provide their Medicare card.
Inala and Redbank were chosen in consultation with the Queensland Government to help meet the needs of local communities and ease pressure on the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital and Ipswich Hospital.
Both clinics will help reduce the number of people attending emergency departments for urgent, but non-life threatening conditions such as sprains, infections or cuts.
Photo by Cottonbro Studio, Pexels.
In 2022-23, 24 percent of all presentations to QEII Jubilee Hospital, and 23 percent at Ipswich Hospital were for semi-urgent or non-urgent care.
The Inala clinic will be commissioned by the Brisbane South Primary Health Network (PHN), and the Redbank clinic will be commissioned by the Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN.
Expression of interest processes will be undertaken to determine the exact locations for the two Medicare UCCs in the coming months.
There have been more than 450,000 visits across Australia since the first Medicare UCCs opened in June 2023, with more than 70,000 of these visits happening in Queensland.
Queenslanders have embraced Medicare UCCs, with 30 percent of all visits taking place on a weekend and nearly a quarter occurring after 5pm on a weekday.
Health and Aged Care minister Mark Butler said the government was strengthening Medicare to allow all Australians to access affordable health care.
“Almost a third of all visits to Medicare UCCs in Queensland are from people under 15, giving parents peace of mind that when their kid needs urgent care they’ll be seen.
“These clinics will ease pressure on the emergency departments at QEII Jubilee Hospital and Ipswich Hospital, and free up staff to provide care to people with more serious conditions.”
Speaker of the House and Member for Oxley, Milton Dick said the Inala and Redbank Medicare UCCs would be a welcome addition to the health services available in the community.
“Access to good medical health is a top priority in the Inala and Redbank area. Residents should not have to compromise with their health,” he said.
“I know this announcement of free, high-quality care will be warmly received by our community.”
Member for Blair Shayne Neumann said the new Medicare Urgent Care Clinics would make a real difference to the people of Inala, Redbank and surrounding communities.
“The Redbank Medicare UCC will ease pressure on the emergency department at Ipswich Hospital, freeing up our hardworking doctors and nurses to focus on saving lives,” he said.
