Keir Paterson promises Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Parkville

An elected Albanese Labor Government has committed to funding Medicare Urgent Care Clinics based at GP surgeries and Community Health Centres in at least 50 locations including one in the Parkville medical precinct.

Keir Paterson, Labor candidate for the federal seat of Melbourne, said people should be able to see a doctor when they urgently need one without a lengthy wait as well as an expensive bill at the end.

“Having a bulk-billing clinic will take pressure off the emergency rooms at the Royal Melbourne and Royal Children’s hospitals,” Mr Paterson said.

“Families are already struggling to access emegency care and are under pressure from rising out-of-pocket costs and straining household budgets from seeing a GP.”

Mr Paterson said that out-of-pocket costs to see a GP in Melbourne have risen by 36 per cent under the current federal government.

The promised Medicare Urgent Care Clinics will remove pressure from hospital emergency departments providing treatment for minor injuries while bulk-billing the costs.

Clinics will be open seven days a week from at least 8am to 10pm covering the hours when generally non-life-threatening injuries occur.

Ged Kearney, Shadow Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing, said “Labor would always protect workers and make sure Australians could get access to free urgent care close to home.”

“These urgent care clinics will crucially help ease pressure on our over-stretched hospital system.” •

Caption: Labor’s Shadow Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing, Ged Kearney, with Labor Candidate for Melbourne Keir Paterson and Labor City of Melbourne Councillor Davydd Griffiths with North Melbourne locals.