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Many people in our community have been talking to me about the time it takes to get care when they go to Hawkesbury Hospital Emergency Department since the closure of the After-Hours GP Clinic under the Liberals’ watch.
The support for a new urgent care clinic in the Hawkesbury has been overwhelming, with more than 2,000 people signing my petition to expand the availability of free, urgent care for our area.
That’ s why I’ m so proud the Albanese Labor Government has recognised our community’ s needs and committed to opening a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in the Hawkesbury.
Like the 87 other Medicare Urgent Care Clinics already delivered by the Labor Government, this service would operate as a walk-in clinic for urgent but non lifethreatening conditions.
No appointment is needed, the clinic operates seven days a week for extended hours, and it’ s bulk-billed- which means you can get care for free with your Medicare card, rather than a credit card.
It means that when a child comes off a bike and gets a nasty cut, or someone suffers a fracture or strain while playing sport, they won’ t have to wait for hours in
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a hospital emergency department to get the healthcare they need.
Open extended hours, 365 days a year, the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic team can assess and treat an injury or condition, whether that requires radiology, referral or anything in-between.
More than 1.2 million Australians have already been treated in Medicare Urgent Care Clinics to date, and parents and families swear by them; one third of
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patients through the doors have been under the age of 15.
This has helped ease the pressure on some hospitals and GPs. In fact, eight in 10 GPs said they’ ve had a positive impact on hospital emergency departments.
Despite these positive figures, the Liberals have said the Urgent Care Clinics are“ wasteful spending” and want to close them. This would force more than 1 million Australians back into the waiting rooms of
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busy hospital emergency departments.
The new Hawkesbury clinic would be one of 50 to be delivered around Australia in the next financial year, extending Labor’ s commitment to strengthening Medicare and building on its historic investment to expand the availability of free, urgent healthcare.
Put simply, it means more accessible, equitable and free healthcare for everyone in the Hawkesbury.
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