A provider for Western Australia’s second Medicare Urgent Care Clinic has been selected, following an Expression of Interest process.

Rockingham Medical and Dental Centre will become a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic and start seeing patients on 30 June 2023.

The Rockingham UCC will deliver on the Australian Government’s commitment to make it easier for West Australians to see a doctor to treat urgent, but not life-threatening, conditions and taking pressure off Rockingham General Hospital.

The Rockingham UCC will be open extended hours, seven days a week, with urgent care fully bulk billed.

Medicare Urgent Care Clinics will fill a big gap in health services in every state and territory. Nearly half of all presentations to hospital emergency departments in WA are for semi and non-urgent conditions.

There will be seven Medicare UCCs in Western Australia. Work is under way to establish a further five clinics in WA including: Joondalup, Murdoch, Midland, Bunbury and Broome.

The Australian Government will continue to work closely with the WA Government and WA Primary Health Alliance to deliver the remaining Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, all of which will open in 2023.

Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
“The Medicare Urgent Care Clinics will make a real difference to patients across the Rockingham and Kwinana region.

“The Rockingham UCC will be open extended hours, 7 days a week, with urgent care fully bulk billed. You’ll be able to walk in and see a doctor or nurse and access imaging and pathology services.

“The clinic will ease pressure on the Rockingham General Hospital, allowing them to concentrate on higher priority emergencies.”

Quotes attributable to Minister King:
“I know many residents and families who have had to wait long hours in the Rockingham emergency department for issues like a broken arm or deep cut.

“The Rockingham UCC will ease pressure on the ED and be much more convenient for our community – closer to home, at short notice, and free under Medicare.”