A new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) at the Browns Plains Medical & Dental Centre in Logan, Queensland, Australia, has commenced operations.

The new facility will operate seven days a week, and will not require appointments.

It will address the semi or non-urgent cases currently seen at Logan Hospital's emergency unit, helping alleviate pressure on the hospital.

At present, semi or non-urgent conditions constitute more than 22% of the cases being treated at the hospital’s emergency department. 

By opening Medicare UCCs, the government intends to lessen the burden on hospitals, enabling them to focus on more critical emergencies.

The government plans to open 11 Medicare UCCs across Queensland by year-end, with an aim to increase accessibility to medical services.

Rankin treasurer and member Jim Chalmers said: “This is a great win for families in our community, making it cheaper and easier to see a doctor and easing pressure on the local hospital. More bulk billing is one of the best ways we can help ease the cost of living in our community without adding to inflation and that’s what this is all about.

“The new Logan Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will ensure local families can get bulk billed care when and where they need it, without an appointment.

“From broken bones to burns, coughs, colds, or cuts, you can head straight to the clinic rather than to the emergency department. This centre will deliver quicker care, closer to home for lots of people at the same time as we free up the hardworking doctors and nurses at Logan Hospital to focus on saving lives.”