A provider for the Launceston Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC) has been selected.
The Launceston Medical Centre will be established as a Medicare UCC and will start seeing patients on 31 July 2023.
The Launceston Medicare UCC will deliver on the Australian Government’s commitment to make it easier for Tasmanians to get the urgent treatment they need – from highly qualified doctors and nurses – while taking pressure off the Launceston General Hospital.
The Medicare UCC will be open for extended hours, seven days a week, and offer walk-in care that is fully bulk billed.
Almost 40 per cent of presentations to the Launceston General Hospital are for non-urgent or semi-urgent care.
In total, there will be four Medicare UCCs in Tasmania, with Launceston being the first Medicare UCC to open in Tasmania.
The Australian Government will continue to work closely with the Tasmanian Government to deliver the remaining Medicare UCCs, all of which will open over the coming months.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
“The Launceston Medicare UCC is going to make a big difference to patients in Launceston and the surrounding region.
“The Launceston UCC will be open extended hours, seven days a week, with urgent care fully bulk billed.
“Taking pressure off the Launceston General Hospital ED, patients will be able to walk in, see a doctor or nurse and access imaging and pathology services.”
Quotes attributable to Acting Premier and Minister for Health, Michael Ferguson:
“The Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in Tasmania will provide an important healthcare option, so that Tasmanians can receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
“It is pleasing that the Launceston Urgent Care Clinic will soon be in operation meaning that more Tasmanians can access the care they need, while working to ease pressure on our hospitals.
“The UCCs will offer high-quality care for people who need to see a medical professional for a health issue that is urgent and requires treatment but is not life-threatening and does not require attending the emergency department.
“Our Government will continue to engage with the Australian Government so that we can get these four UCCs up and running and seeing patients, as quickly as possible.”
Quotes attributable to Minister Julie Collins, Member for Franklin:
“I know many families in Launceston and the region who have had to wait long hours at the Launceston General Hospital for non-life-threatening issues.
“The Launceston UCC will ease pressure on our local ED and be much more convenient for our community – closer to home, at short notice, and free under Medicare.”
Quotes attributable to Senator Helen Polley, Senator for Tasmania:
“This is another example of the Albanese Labor Government delivering for Tasmania.
“This will make a huge difference in the lives of so many of our Launceston residents.”
