Five bulk billing clinics to open to ease pressure on hospital EDs

Five bulk-billing urgent care clinics in SA will ease pressure on hospitals and fast-track patients at risk of being caught in clogged EDs.

Five new Medicare urgent care clinics will open in South Australia under a $135m national plan to ease pressure on hospital emergency departments.

The clinics will bulk bill and be open for extended hours, seven days a week, treating thousands of patients with non-life threatening conditions who may otherwise seek treatment at EDs.

These category 4 (semi-urgent) and category 5 (non-urgent) patients account for about 47 per cent of ED presentations a year – almost four million nationally. They are often forced to wait hours to be seen during busy times and add to ambulance ramping.

The clinics are expected to be located in existing community health centres or GP clinics near major hospitals. They were a key election commitment by the federal government, with plans for more than 50 such centres across Australia.

No appointment will be necessary and doctors and nurses at the clinics will treat conditions such as sprains, broken bones, stitches for cuts, wound care, minor burns, insect bites and minor ear and eye problems.

An expression of interest (EOI) opens on Friday for the SA clinics, which will be established in the city, southern suburbs, outer-southern suburbs, outer-northern suburbs and Mount Gambier.

The EOI will be led by the Adelaide Primary Health Network and Country SA Primary Health Network. Submissions close on March 24.

Existing general practices, community health centres and Aboriginal community controlled health services are eligible to apply.

The federal government will work closely with the state government and the health networks to deliver the new clinics.

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler. Picture: Martin Ollman/Getty Images

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said the clinics would take pressure off stretched emergency departments.

“Our Medicare urgent care clinics will allow families in South Australia to get top-quality care from a nurse or a doctor without having to wait in a hospital emergency department,” Mr Butler said.

“Medicare UCCs are just one way the Albanese government is strengthening Medicare and reforming Australia’s primary care system to ensure everyone can access affordable medical care.

“The UCCs will be bulk billed and open seven days a week, meaning SA families don’t end up in the emergency department for non-life-threatening care.”

The size of each clinic will depend on local needs. The model of care will provide a block grant to existing GP-led clinics in order to ensure they can open longer, and increase the number of doctors, nurses and allied health staff.

One-off grants also will be provided to improve equipment, such as X-ray machines.

The clinic plan includes another $100m to co-develop and pilot innovative models with states and territories to improve care pathways.