Townsville Medicare Urgent Care Clinic offers bulk-billed alternative to emergency departments

A new bulk-billed urgent care clinic has opened in Townsville, offering patients an alternative to clogging hospital emergency departments with non-life-threatening conditions. See how it looks inside.

A pressure valve has been released for Townsville’s hospital emergency departments after a new medical centre opened in Kirwan, offering bulk-billing for patients with non-life-threatening issues.

More than 35 per cent of presentations to the Townsville University Hospital are for non-urgent or semi-urgent care, where an average of 270 patients to over 300 patients attend daily.

Established in 2018, the Eastbrooke Family Clinic at 86 Thuringowa Drive was approved to become the Townsville Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) in November following a rigorous select tender process.

Making it easier to access the urgent treatment from highly qualified doctors and nurses without an appointment or referral, the new centre will be open 11am-9pm every day, including weekends and public holidays.

Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) chief executive Sean Rooney said the Townsville Medicare UCC bridged the gap between general practitioner care and the emergency department.

Eastbrooke Project Manager Kristie Wyeth with NQPHN chief executive Sean Rooney, Mundingburra MP Les Walker, Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper and Townsville HHS Chief Executive Kieran Keyes. Picture: Leighton Smith.

Eastbrooke Medical Centres director Andrew de Picot said free bulk-billed care would be provided for urgent health conditions, such as minor fractures, sprains and sports injuries, wounds, minor burns, infections, and illnesses like urinary tract infections (UTI) and gastroenteritis.

Reception and waiting area at the new Townsville Medicare Urgent Care Clinic. Picture: Leighton Smith.

“Patients can walk-in and be seen by a highly trained doctor and nurse in a GP setting – no need to wait in a hospital emergency department,” Mr de Picot said.

Pathology services have been added to the Townsville Medicare Urgent Care Clinic. Picture: Leighton Smith.

The new Townsville Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is located at 86 Thuringowa Drive, Kirwan. Picture: Leighton Smith.

Townsville’s Medicare UCC will be one of 11 urgent care clinics in Queensland, with 50 to be established nationwide.

Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler said the clinic would ease pressure on the Townsville University Hospital, allowing health staff to concentrate on higher priority emergencies.

His government was also strengthening Medicare by tripling the bulk billing incentive and making medicines cheaper.

Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said the clinics were designed to support fast-growing communities while taking pressure off our busy public hospital system.

Originally published as Townsville Medicare Urgent Care Clinic offers bulk-billed alternative to emergency departments