Rockhampton Medicare Urgent Care Clinic opens

About one quarter of Rockhampton’s population were patients at the abruptly closed Mandalay Medical Centre, according to the clinic’s practice manager.

The Rockhampton Central Medical Centre, formerly the Mandalay Medical Centre, will be established as the Rockhampton Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC) following an expression of interest process.

About one quarter of Rockhampton’s population were patients at the abruptly closed Mandalay Medical Centre, according to the clinic’s practice manager.

Now the practice manager of the bulk billing clinic which has taken its place, Rockhampton Central Medical Centre, Deb Lacey said patients of the centre had expressed their relief it would be staying open.

“We had about a quarter of Rocky’s population in patients so they were devastated and, I will admit, it’s been a hard three months,” she said.

“But I take my hat off to this team, because without them the doors would be closed and we would not have that service for the patients here.

“Most patients that are currently patients are obviously struggling with the change in doctors but are more than happy to continue and see new doctors because we’ve stayed open.”

Ms Lacey said the centre currently had four doctors with more hopefully joining the team in January or February.

Health Minister Mark Butler. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The Rockhampton Central Medical Centre, formerly the Mandalay Medical Centre, will be established as well as the Rockhampton Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC) following an expression of interest process.

The Medicare UCC opened on December 6 and follows the Albanese Government’s commitment to make it easier for people in Rockhampton to get the urgent treatment they need from highly qualified doctors and nurses while taking pressure off the Rockhampton Hospital.

The announcement comes after the clinic was given a lifeline when the state and federal government’s intervened to keep Rockhampton’s only bulk billing doctors open.

The Medicare UCC will be open for extended hours, seven days a week, and offer walk-in care that is fully bulk billed.

People seeking care from the clinic can receive treatments for things such as minor burns, wound dressing, vomiting and dehydration and insect bites.

However, patients suffering from life-threatening conditions should still present to the hospital emergency department.

Patients are also encouraged to seek assistance from their GP before presenting to the Medicare UCC.

The Rockhampton Central Medical Centre, formerly the Mandalay Medical Centre, will be established as the Rockhampton Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC) following an expression of interest process.

The Medicare UCC was also welcomed by Assistant Health Minister and Keppel MP Brittany Lauga and Rockhampton MP Barry O’Rourke.

“We certainly believe in everyone in Central Queensland, and right across Australia, having access to a quality public healthcare system no matter where they live and this clinic will provide that access to Central Queenslanders,” she said.

“It was an amazing day when we were able to announce the Rockhampton medical clinic here was able to stay open, but an even better day today (Friday) that we’re able to officially open the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.”

The Rockhampton Central Medical Centre, formerly the Mandalay Medical Centre.

Senator Nita Green said the Rockhampton Medicare UCC would allow people who needed urgent, but not acute, care to get it quickly, and all they would need is a Medicare card.

“I know many families who have had to wait long hours at the emergency department for non-life-threatening issues,” she said.

“This clinic will ease pressure on the Rockhampton Hospital, allowing them to concentrate on higher priority emergencies.”

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said the Rockhampton clinic would make a “big difference” to patients in the greater Rockhampton area.

“Local communities will be able to walk in, see a doctor or nurse and access imaging and pathology services,” he said.

“This Medicare UCC will ease pressure on local EDs and be much more convenient for our communities – closer to home, at short notice, and bulk billed under Medicare.”

More than 35 per cent of presentations to the Rockhampton Hospital are for non-urgent or semi-urgent care.

Country to Coast, QLD Senior Manager Central Queensland, Samantha King, Practice Manager, Deb Lacey and Nurse Manager Gyanu Maya excited about the ForHealth acquisition of Mandalay Medical Centre in Rockhampton.

Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said the urgent care clinics were designed to take pressures off the health system and GPs by being an accessible and community-based alternative to busy hospitals.

Shockwaves were sent across the Rockhampton community in late October when it was announced Mandalay Medical Centre would close at the beginning of December.

State Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga pushed for Ms Fentiman to intervene, along with Federal Health Minister Mark Butler and Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry.

It led to Director-General Michael Walsh travelling to Rockhampton on October 27 to host a meeting with doctors.

It was announced on November 22 that health services provider ForHealth had bought the facility, with the facility remaining open.

The Rockhampton Medicare UCC will be one of 11 established in Queensland with other clinics already located in Bundaberg, Cairns, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Logan , northern Brisbane, Redcliffe, southern Brisbane, Toowoomba and Townsville.

Originally published as Rockhampton Medicare Urgent Care Clinic opens