New urgent care clinic to relieve pressure on Toowoomba’s emergency departments

A free urgent care clinic catering to serious but not life-threatening injuries has opened in Toowoomba and it is hoped it will take some of the burden off our overcrowded emergency departments.

Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Emma McBride (centre) speaking with Urgent Care Clinic Director Dr Ajit Bhalla and Darling Downs and West Moreton Public Health Network chief executive Lucille Chalmers.

Patients with severe cuts, broken bones and sore heads are being encouraged to check into the new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic instead of the emergency department.

The clinic at the corner of West and James streets caters to lower-category patients who cannot wait for a GP appointment, but may face long wait times at the Toowoomba Hospital ED.

Federal Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Assistant Minister Emma McBride toured the centre on Monday and said it was already helping to reduce wait times at the public hospital.

“The most common presentations at the clinic are lacerations, head injuries, respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections,” she said.

“These are urgent but not life-threatening presentations that can be seen safely and quickly by highly skilled nurses and doctors.”

Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Assistant Minister Emma McBride (centre) speaking with Urgent Care Clinic Director Dr Ajit Bhalla and Darling Downs and West Moreton Public Health Network chief executive Lucille Chalmers.

The clinic opened in October last year and has treated more than 7000 people.

It has medical imaging and pathology services on site and is open from 7am to 10pm, seven days a week.

It also works in tandem with a patient’s existing GP, to provide care of alignments that cannot wait, but would often see a patient triaged at a lower category in the public hospital.

“If you have had a severe cut you can come here and have it sutured, if you fall or a break, you can come here and have it plastered,’’ Ms McBride said.

“For head injuries, they can be seen here and either referred to the ED or back to their GP.”

Darling Downs Health Data shows the number of category 3-5 presentations at the Toowoomba Hospital remained constant since the clinic opened, despite an increase in the overall population.

While Ms McBride was at the clinic she also announced plans to open a Medicare Mental Health Centre at Warwick, one of 19 across Queensland.

“Medicare Mental Health Centres provide free mental health care and support, closer to home,” she said.

“We are expanding the range and reach of free mental health services, better matching services with people’s needs.

“The new Warwick Medicare Mental Health Centre will offer comprehensive wraparound care for people in need across the Darling Downs and Southern Queensland.”