Provider Finalised for Coffs Harbour Medicare Urgent Care Clinic

The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment to the people of New South Wales with a provider for the Coffs Harbour Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC) finalised, following an Expression of Interest process.

CHC Medical will be established as the Coffs Harbour Medicare UCC and is expected to start seeing patients in November 2023.

This Medicare UCC delivers on the Australian Government’s commitment to make it easier for people in New South Wales to get the urgent treatment they need – from highly qualified doctors and nurses – while taking pressure off the Coffs Harbour Hospital.

The Medicare UCC will be open for extended hours, 7 days a week, and offer walk-in care that is fully bulk billed.

More than 45 per cent of presentations to the Coffs Harbour Hospital are for non-urgent or semi-urgent care.

This clinic will join seven clinics that are already operational in Albury, Blacktown, Cessnock, Penrith, Randwick, Westmead, and Wollongong. More clinics will open over the coming weeks and all clinics will be open before the end of the year.

The Australian Government will continue to work closely with Primary Health Networks and the New South Wales Government to deliver the remaining Medicare UCCs. 

Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:

“The Coffs Harbour Medicare UCC is going to make a big difference to patients in the greater Coffs Harbour area.

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

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

“The Albanese Government is committed to strengthening Medicare and making it easier and cheaper to get quality healthcare, by tripling the bulk billing incentive and making medicines cheaper.

Quotes attributable to Senator Tim Ayres, Duty Senator for Cowper:

"The Coffs Harbour Medicare UCC will mean people in this community who need urgent but not acute care, can get it quickly even if it’s outside standard hours – and all they’ll need is their Medicare card.

It’s particularly important in a regional area like Coffs Harbour, where local EDs have to service a huge catchment area. This UCC will ease the pressure on local EDs, whilst also being more convenient for the local Coffs community.

The Albanese Government is investing in Medicare and our regional centres, to ensure that families across the country can access healthcare no matter where they live.”

Quotes attributable to Clr Tony Judge, City of Coffs Harbour:

The urgent care clinic will make a huge difference to people who need medical treatment on the Coffs Coast. So many people have spoken to me in the last year or 2 about waiting times in Emergency at Coffs Harbour Hospital. The urgent Care Clinic will take a lot of pressure off services at the Hospital and give patients a real alternative, especially out of hours.

The Urgent Care Clinic will fill a lot of different needs. It will be especially welcomed by parents who need medical care for a child at night, people without a regular GP and patients who need urgent care but don’t feel comfortable taking up a spot in Emergency.

The option of a bulk billed appointment with a doctor on short notice will improve health outcomes and relieve financial stress on individuals and families. It is a very welcome announcement for the Coffs Coast.