Tasmania bulk bill clinics: Kristie Johnston questions viability of new Medicare urgent care centres

An MP has raised concerns over four new bulk-billing clinics in Tasmania, questioning where the staff will come from and what is deemed an “urgent” patient. WHAT WE KNOW >>

Four new Urgent Care Clinics announced by the federal government would be welcome in Tasmania says a state MP, but has questioned how they will be staffed and a “vagueness” of who the clinics will treat.

Clark independent Kristie Johnston said Anthony Albanese’s announcement that an additional clinic would open in Hobart needs more detail.

The PM announced four of the new bulk-billing clinics would open across the state, two in Hobart and one each for Launceston and Devonport.

But the federal Health Minister has confirmed that new centres won’t be built from the ground up and “existing” centres would be used to open the practices.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Federal Health Minister Mark Butler at Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

The clinics would be open seven days a week from 8am to 10pm. They aim to reduce the strain on Tasmania’s emergency departments and general practices.

On Monday Mr Albanese announced that the federal government was “committed” to backing the clinics promised at the past election.

“It’s about making sure that people can front up if their kid falls off a skateboard or a bike, if they need that urgent care, but not life-threatening care that will still be provided,” Mr Albanese said.

“People can get the care that they need in a timely manner, and all they’ll need is their Medicare card, not their credit card. And that’s why this is important.”

But Ms Johnston says she has been “highlighting for years the dire shortage” of bulk-billing GPs and said detail on the clinics was “scant”.

“Where are the Hobart clinics to be located? One of the clinics must be established north of Creek Road. So many of my constituents in the northern suburbs have mobility issues and need their doctor close at hand where they live. Accessibility is just as important as availability,” Ms Johnston said.

Independent Kristie Johnston. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

As the state struggles with a shortfall of health workers and an estimated 60 GP roles go unfilled, Ms Johnston asked: “Where are the doctors and nurses going to come from?”

“Claremont GP Graeme Alexander said there is little understanding among politicians of the mood pervading GPs as they struggle to cope. Most have had enough. They feel they are not supported by governments resulting with many leaving general practice for good,” Ms Johnston said.

“Will these clinics help bring doctors back to general practice, or will they poach doctors from existing practices?”

Ms Johnston also expressed concerns over what kind of patients would be treated at the clinics.

“An overriding concern for me is the vagueness of who exactly these clinics will treat. Will there be some form of triage to only see urgent cases? What determines “urgent”? I’d hate to be the one who has to say ‘Go away, you’re not urgent enough’.”

Australian Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler said the ‘clinics’ would be absorbed by existing general practices.

“We’re not building new clinics, we’re not going to employ new teams, this will be general practices that are keen to lift that practice to the next level,” he said.

Mr Butler said it would divert people from emergency departments, “often waiting six to eight hours” for care.

He said the clinics were a “smarter use of our existing workforce.”