Medicare Urgent Care Clinic opens in Wollongong
27 July 2023
From today, people in Wollongong who need urgent health care, for non-life-threatening conditions, can walk-in to the new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC) at the Corrimal Medical and Dental Centre on Underwood Street.
Medicare UCCs provide fully bulk billed urgent care, by highly trained doctors and nurses and appointments are not required.
The Wollongong Medicare UCC will be open 8am to 8pm, seven days a week including public holidays.
Andrew Gow, Acting Chief Executive Officer of COORDINARE – South Eastern NSW PHN said: “This new clinic should make it easier for the community to get the urgent treatment they need while taking pressure off Wollongong Hospital.
“We’ve worked closely with both the Australian and NSW governments to ensure the Medicare UCCs align with local health services and the needs of our community.
“It will be free to attend the clinic for urgent care of minor injuries and illness - so if you or a member of your family have a deep cut, closed fracture, simple eye injury, ear infection or minor burn we recommend you head straight to the Wollongong Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.
“People who require emergency and life-saving care should still go to the emergency department at Wollongong Hospital,” he said.
“If you have a Medicare card or number, ensure you bring it with you when you visit a Medicare UCC.”
(Pictured, medical staff and other key stake holders at the newly opened Urgent Care Clinic in Corrimal).
Almost half of all presentations to New South Wales hospital emergency departments and 40% of presentations at Wollongong Hospital emergency are for semi- and non-urgent conditions (source).
The Wollongong clinic is one of the 14 Medicare UCCs scheduled to open this year across New South Wales including Albury, Batemans Bay, Blacktown, Campbelltown, Cessnock, Coffs Harbour, Gosford, Lismore, Penrith, Randwick, Tamworth, Westmead and Wyong. Read more here.