The Albanese Labor Government is delivering for residents in southwest Brisbane with two Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (Medicare UCC) to open in Inala and Redbank.
Locals will be able to access care seven days a week, over extended hours, with no appointment required. Importantly, the clinics will be completely bulk billed, meaning more people can access high-quality care quickly, at no cost – all they’ll need is 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.
In 2022-23, 24 per cent of all presentations to QEII Jubilee Hospital, and 23 per cent 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 per cent of all visits taking place on a weekend and nearly a quarter occurring after 5pm on a weekday.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
“The Albanese Government is strengthening Medicare so all Australians can 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.”
Quotes attributable to Speaker of the House and Member for Oxley, Milton Dick:
“Access to good medical health is a top priority in the Inala and Redbank area. Residents should not have to compromise with their health.
“The Inala and Redbank Medicare UCCs will be a welcome addition to the health services available in our community.
“I know this announcement of free, high-quality care will be warmly received by our community.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Blair, Shayne Neumann:
“These new Medicare Urgent Care Clinics will 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.
“Locals will be able to access fully bulk billed medical care when they need it, with no appointment required, which will help ease cost of living pressures.”
