THE clock read 7pm and being close to full-term, the local mother needed medical attention.
Thanks to the Urgent Care Clinic Ipswich, she had that option available to her along with added peace of mind for herself and her baby.
The program has been extended now with clinics opening at Goodna and Oxley earlier this month, providing access to free urgent care closer to home.
“To have that option without having to go to the emergency department meant I was able to be seen locally,” the new mum said.
“The Goodna clinic is even closer to where we live, so quicker and faster attention is now available on that side of Ipswich.”
The Goodna Medicare UCC is located at Goodna Family Medical Centre at 2 Smith Rd, Goodna offering walk-in care, seven days a week, open extended hours and equipped to treat a range of urgent, but not life-threatening ailments.
Importantly, these clinics are completely bulk billed, meaning more people can access high-quality care quickly, at no cost – all they need is their Medicare card.
The Medicare UCCs deliver on the Federal Government’s commitment to make it easier for people in Queensland to get the urgent treatment they need, from highly qualified doctors and nurses, easing pressure off Ipswich Hospital.
The Goodna and Oxley Medicare UCCs join the 13 established clinics in Queensland, including Bundaberg, Cairns South, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Logan (Browns Plains), Morayfield, Murrumba Downs, Northside, Rockhampton, South Brisbane, Southport, Townsville and Toowoomba.
These clinics have seen more than 158,000 presentations to date.
More than one in four of these visits have been children under the age of 15.
The Albanese Federal Government is continuing to work with GPs on measures to deliver improved health care for residents.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said the clinics were a game-changer, and Member for Oxley Milton Dick said access to good medical health was a top priority for his community.
“Locals will be able to access bulk billed medical care without having to make an appointment by just using their Medicare card.”
