Expressions of interest open to community health organisations for Rockingham Medicare urgent care clinic

Medical organisations across Rockingham are being encouraged to express their interest in servicing one of the first medicare urgent care clinics in WA. The Albanese Government opened the expression of interest period for the establishment of WA’s first three medicare UCCs in Rockingham, Morley and Clarkson on Friday. Expressions of interest are open to existing general practices, Aboriginal community controlled health services and other community health centres and must be in by March 24. The urgent care clinics are expected to ease growing pressures on WA hospitals and provide more avenues for families to see a healthcare professional. The Federal Government will work closely with the State Government to deliver the clinics, which will operate seven days a week and be bulk billed. WA will have clinics in Rockingham, Murdoch, Perth city, Joondalup, Midland, Bunbury and Broome — but they will not all be operational until Christmas. Brand MP Madeleine King said she was pleased Rockingham would be one of the first communities to receive an urgent care clinic. “The new Medicare urgent care clinic in Rockingham will mean more families in Brand will be able to get top-quality care from a nurse or doctor without having to wait in a hospital emergency department,” she said. “These clinics are a key part of the Government’s plan to strengthen Medicare by making it easier to see a doctor.” Meanwhile, Health Minister Mark Butler has said the Federal Government is “acting” to urgently fix Medicare, with Australians expected to notice improvements in the coming months. So far $750 million over three years has been committed to the Strengthening Medicare Fund in the Federal Budget, which is scheduled to be delivered in May.