Medicare Urgent Care Clinic to Open In Charlestown Taking Pressure off John Hunter

6 November 2024

newy.com.au – In a joint announcement, Health Minister Mark Butler, Member for Shortland Pat Conroy, Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon, and Member for Hunter Dan Repacholi declared the opening of the Charlestown Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC), set for late November 2024. This new clinic is part of the Albanese Government’s strategy to improve Medicare in the Hunter region, offering fully bulk-billed, high-quality healthcare for conditions that are urgent but not life-threatening, such as sprains, cuts, and infections.

Located at 316 Charlestown Road and operated by the Charlestown Medical and Dental Centre, the UCC will be open seven days a week with extended hours. This facility is designed to divert non-critical cases away from the overwhelmed John Hunter Hospital, where more than 35% of emergency presentations last year were semi-urgent or non-urgent. The initiative is anticipated to significantly reduce wait times and enhance healthcare access for local residents.

Minister Butler stated, “The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment to strengthen Medicare and make it easier for people to see a doctor. People living in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie will be able to get the care they need from doctors and nurses without having to wait at the John Hunter. The Charlestown Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will make a significant difference to the local community, by providing high-quality, accessible care outside of normal GP hours without having to reach for your wallet.”

Pat Conroy, MP for Shortland, highlighted local support for this development, noting, “Many people in my Lake Macquarie community have made it clear that access to affordable, good quality healthcare is their number one priority. The Charlestown UCC will address gaps in the health services available locally and reduce pressure on the John Hunter Hospital. People in our community will be able to access fully bulk-billed medical care at the clinic without needing to make an appointment.”

Sharon Claydon, MP for Newcastle, reflected on the broader improvements the Labor Government has made in regional healthcare. “We’ve already restored GP Access After Hours at the John Hunter Hospital to its full operational hours and reopened the clinic at Calvary Mater Hospital. We are now opening a new Medicare UCC in Charlestown, so that Novocastrians will have even more access to free, quality primary healthcare, where the only card you need is your Medicare card,” she said.

Member for Hunter Dan Repacholi added, “The addition of another Medicare UCC in the Hunter will give residents another option to get timely access to care and will help reduce pressure on our struggling public hospital system. I know the clinic in Cessnock has had over 10,000 visits in the first 12 months, and the people around the Lake Macquarie part of the Hunter electorate will now have another choice.”

The announcement aligns with efforts to combat the long-standing crisis in Australia’s healthcare system, marked by overburdened hospitals, prolonged emergency department wait times, and ambulance ramping. The AMA has repeatedly called for reforms to break out of this cycle, advocating for increased hospital capacity, more beds, and better funding models.