At least three super clinics still not operating for 14 hours a day, seven days a week

Labor pledged to have bulk-billing clinics open between 8am and 10pm daily – but many are still operating at reduced capacity.

Labor pledged to open 50 bulk-billing clinics nationwide.

Almost a third of urgent care clinics in Victoria continue to operate at reduced capacity, despite the Albanese government promising they would open between 8am and 10pm daily.

Labor pledged to open 50 bulk-billing clinics nationwide to take strain off hospitals by treating non-life threatening conditions in a major election commitment.

At least 56 centres, including 10 in key Victorian locations, are operational with the latest opening at Carlton in mid-December.

However, at least three of the super clinics are still not operating for 14 hours a day, seven days a week.

Almost a third of urgent care clinics in Victoria continue to operate at reduced capacity. Picture: Leighton Smith

Analysis shows hours at the Shepparton urgent care clinic, which the Herald Sun in July revealed was forced to close its doors for part of the week due to doctors shortages, continue to fluctuate.

Some days the centre is open between the promised 8am to 10pm, while it is reduced to 8am to 4.30pm on others.

This is because it faces challenges securing staff at short notice to cover leave and has not received any additional support to address the issue.

Ballarat’s clinic continues to open 10am to 10pm seven days a week, while the Inner Melbourne centre is open 10am to 8pm.

Health Minister Mark Butler said the Carlton clinic would be open for “extended hours seven days a week” to take pressure off the Royal Melbourne Hospital – where one in three presentations is for non-urgent or semi-urgent care.

Mark Butler said the Carlton clinic would be open for ‘extended hours seven days a week’. Picture: Martin Ollman

The health department has previously said that centre opening hours would be based on the needs of the local community and workforce availability.

In Victoria, urgent care clinics are also located at Frankston, Geelong, Heidelberg, Narre Warren, Werribee, South Melbourne and Sunbury.

But only two of the 10 medical centres are new.

This was because the Albanese government took over the funding of eight state priority primary care centres, which Daniel Andrews separately announced three months before the November state election.

The government had planned to have all 50 centres open come July, however, workforce shortages and work with providers were factors in the delay.

Opposition health spokeswoman, Anne Ruston, said the government had failed to deliver their Urgent Care Clinics on time, keep them open for extended hours, and ensure there is an on-site doctor at all clinics.

Senator Ruston said there was no guarantee the clinics would relieve under-pressure hospital emergency departments across Victoria if 30 per cent of clinics didn’t operate for committed extended hours of 9am to 10pm.

“It is clear that the people of Victoria have been sold a lie,” Senator Ruston said.

“The government must take action to adequately relieve pressure on our healthcare system and actually improve Victorians’ timely and affordable access to critical primary care.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in December declared 58 urgent care clinics would be operational by the end of this year, with the Commonwealth committing to boost funding for the centres at national cabinet.