COORDINARE CEO Prudence Buist, Member for Whitlam Carol Berry, Minister for Health Mark Butler, Shellharbour Medicare UCC lead Dr Mohammad Abdool, and Centre Health’s Dr Muhammad Rashid. Photo: Supplied.
Shellharbour residents now have access to bulk-billed urgent medical care closer to home, with the Shellharbour Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC) officially opening its doors in Barrack Heights.
Opened by Federal Health Minister Mark Butler and Whitlam MP Carol Berry, the new clinic is operating from Centre Health Medical Centre on Captain Cook Drive and will be open from 8 am to 8 pm, seven days a week, with no appointment required.
The walk-in service is designed to treat urgent but non-life-threatening conditions, from minor fractures to viral infections.
Mr Butler described the clinic as “a game changer for families in the Shellharbour region”.
“This clinic is a key part of the Albanese Government’s commitment to strengthen Medicare and make health care more accessible and affordable,” he said.
“This new data shows Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are taking the pressure off NSW hospitals and making sure patients can get the care they need when they need it.”
The clinic was commissioned by COORDINARE – South Eastern NSW Primary Health Network following a competitive tender process.
COORDINARE CEO Prudence Buist said the service would provide an alternative to emergency departments for Shellharbour residents and visitors.
“The new Shellharbour Medicare UCC will provide an alternative option for anyone needing urgent but non-life-threatening care from a doctor or nurse in the Shellharbour region,” Ms Buist said.
“They will treat sprains and broken bones, cuts, wounds, insect bites, minor ear and eye problems, minor burns and other non-life-threatening issues.”
Shellharbour is one of the fastest-growing parts of the Illawarra, with demand for health services increasing alongside population growth.
According to the latest available data (2023–24), almost 50 per cent of presentations to Shellharbour Hospital were for non-urgent or semi-urgent care.
Member for Whitlam Carol Berry said the new clinic would help ease that pressure on the hospital.
“This Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will make a real difference for locals by providing convenient, bulk-billed urgent care right here in the heart of Shellharbour,” Ms Berry said.
“The opening of the clinic is a huge win for our community, taking the pressure off the emergency department at Shellharbour Hospital.”
The clinic will join an existing network of 34 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across NSW, which includes Dapto and Wollongong.
The Federal Government has committed to expanding the network so that four in five Australians live within a 20-minute drive of a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.
Shellharbour Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is located at Suite 15/25, Captain Cook Drive, Barrack Heights and is open seven days a week.
