Medicare Urgent Care Clinic opens in Batemans Bay
5 December 2023
People in the Eurobodalla who need urgent health care, for non-life-threatening conditions, can walk-in to the new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC) now open at Batemans Bay Hospital, at 7 Pacific Street, Batemans Bay.
The Batemans Bay Medicare UCC is funded by the Australian Government and was officially opened today by Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips MP.
According to recent data, almost half of all presentations to New South Wales hospital emergency departments and 56.3 per cent* of presentations at Batemans Bay Hospital emergency are for semi- and non-urgent conditions.
“This clinic will make it easier for the community to get the urgent treatment they need and to take pressure off Batemans Bay Hospital’s emergency department. We were determined to open the doors to this new clinic before Christmas, in time for the usual increase in demand for urgent and semi-urgent care experienced over the holiday period.
“Urgent Care Clinics provide fully bulk billed urgent care, by highly trained doctors and nurses and appointments are not required. The Batemans Bay UCC is conveniently located at the same site as the emergency department and is open 8am to 6pm, seven days a week including public holidays,” said Ms Phillips.
Pictured: opening the Batemans Bay Medicare Urgent Care Clinic from left: Prudence Buist, COORDINARE CEO; Simon Taylor-Cross, For Health National Director; Fiona Phillips MP, Member for Gilmore; Dr Michael Holland MP, Member for Bega; Margaret Bennett, Southern NSW Local Health District, Chief Executive.
Prudence Buist, Chief Executive Officer of COORDINARE – South Eastern NSW PHN said: “We’ve worked closely with both the Australian Government and Southern NSW LHD to ensure this Medicare UCC will meet the needs of our community.
“It will be free to attend the clinic 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 Batemans Bay Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.
“People who require emergency and life-saving care should go directly to the emergency department, however with the clinic co-located, staff will be able to direct people to the appropriate care service,” she said.
“If you have a Medicare card or number, ensure you bring it with you when you visit either the Medicare UCC or emergency.”
The Batemans Bay clinic is one of the 14 Medicare UCCs scheduled to open this year across New South Wales including Albury, Blacktown, Campbelltown, Cessnock, Coffs Harbour, Gosford, Lismore, Penrith, Randwick, Tamworth, Westmead, Wollongong and Wyong. Read more about Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.
Learn more about the local urgent care services here.
*AIHW MyHospitals Emergency Department Presentations 2020-21.