MARK BUTLER MP
MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE
MARK DREYFUS KC MP
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
MEDIA RELEASE
NEW MEDICARE URGENT CARE CLINIC FOR DANDENONG
The Albanese Government is delivering for the Dandenong community with a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC) to give better access to high quality and free health care.
From 1 September, the Dandenong Medicare UCC began operating on Logis Boulevard in Dandenong South.
In the 2024-25 Budget, the Albanese Government provided $227 million to expand the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic program.
Seven existing state-funded Priority Primary Care Centres will transition to the Albanese Government’s Medicare Urgent Care Clinic network, following a request from the Victorian Government.
The Dandenong clinic will help reduce the number of people attending the local emergency department for urgent, but non-life threatening, conditions like sprains, infections, rashes or cuts.
This is good news for Dandenong Hospital, where a quarter of presentations to the emergency room are for non-urgent and semi-urgent issues.
Over 40% of Medicare Urgent Care Clinic presentations in the state have been outside standard business hours, which means the clinics are filling an important gap in services across extended hours and over the weekend.
And with one in four visits treating a young person under 15, the Victorian clinics are giving families timely health care and peace of mind.
Located at 1/134 Logis Boulevard in Dandenong South, the Dandenong Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is open 8am-10pm every day.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler:
“The new Dandenong Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will be open every day of the week to offer high quality, timely and free care.
“The Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is just one way the Albanese Government is strengthening Medicare in Dandenong; all patients need is their Medicare card for a completely free service.
Quotes attributable to Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus:
“Dandenong Hospital has a busy emergency department. With one in four presentations being for less pressing conditions and injuries, there is room to reduce the load on busy staff.
“A local Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will help divert patients from the hospital and ensure they’re treated quickly and professionally by highly trained doctors and nurses.”
WEDNESDAY, 4 SEPTEMBER 2024
