What’s happening?
A new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic has opened in Mackay, offering walk-in treatment for urgent but non-life-threatening conditions.
The clinic is located at 11-13 Peel Street, Mackay, and is open from 8 am to 10 pm, seven days a week, including public holidays.
Patients do not need appointments, and all services are fully bulk billed.
The clinic treats conditions needing urgent care but not emergency treatment. These include cuts, viral infections, sprains and minor burns.
The facility was officially opened by Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health Emma McBride and Assistant Minister for Northern Australia Senator Nita Green.
The clinic is commissioned by Northern Queensland Primary Health Network and operated by Bupa at Eastbrooke Ambrose Family Medical.
Why it matters
The new clinic provides another option for residents who need urgent care but do not require hospital emergency treatment.
Minister for Health Mark Butler said the new facility will improve access to care in the region.
“The Mackay Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is a game-changer for families in the Mackay region.
“The Mackay Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will ease pressure on the emergency department at Mackay Base Hospital and free up staff at the hospital to provide care to people with more serious conditions.
“This clinic is a key part of the Albanese Government’s commitment to strengthening Medicare and making health care more accessible and affordable.”
Assistant Minister Emma McBride said the clinics are improving access to healthcare across regional Australia.
“More than 529,000 people have accessed care at one of our Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across Queensland.
“The new Mackay Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will provide greater access to urgent care, 7 days a week, over extended hours.
“The Albanese Labor Government is strengthening Medicare by delivering more fully bulk-billed healthcare for people in rural and regional communities.”
Senator Nita Green said the clinic fulfils a commitment to Mackay residents.
“The Albanese Labor Government promised the people of Mackay that we would open a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, and we have delivered.
“The Mackay Medicare UCC will ensure the people of Mackay can get the urgent care they need, when they need, with just their Medicare cards – all while relieving pressure on the local ED.
“This is what delivering for regional Queensland looks like.”
By the numbers
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2.6 million presentations have been recorded across Medicare Urgent Care Clinics nationwide since the first sites opened in June 2023.
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More than 529,200 presentations have been recorded across existing Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in Queensland.
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Around 26% of emergency department presentations at Mackay Base Hospital in 2024-25 were semi-urgent or non-urgent cases.
Zoom in
Northern Queensland Primary Health Network CEO Ben Tooth said community consultation confirmed strong demand for urgent care services in the region.
“This is great news for residents as there was a clear need for a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Mackay,” Mr Tooth said.
“The clinic will help increase urgent care access and availability for the growing population of Mackay and the greater Mackay Whitsunday region.
“It offers walk-in, bulk-billed care to treat urgent, non-life-threatening conditions that can be managed without a trip to the emergency department but cannot wait for a regular appointment with a GP.”
Bupa Medical Director Scott Beattie said the service will support healthcare access in regional communities.
“By expanding our network of health services in the area, we are working to reduce the health gap experienced by many residents living in regional Queensland communities compared with those living in major cities,” Mr Beattie said.
“The Federal Government should be commended for the expansion of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in regional Queensland to provide easier access to vital healthcare and reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments.”
Zoom out
The Mackay clinic joins 23 existing Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across Queensland, with two more clinics planned.
The initiative forms part of the Albanese Government’s broader healthcare strategy.
The aim is for four out of five Australians to live within a 20-minute drive of a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.
Across the network, more than one in four patients have been children under 15. Many visits also occur during weekends and after hours.
Local impact
Mackay Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Sean Birgan said the clinic will help redirect non-emergency cases away from hospital emergency departments.
“The Mackay Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will help ease the pressure on the Mackay Base Hospital emergency department and give people more options to access healthcare for conditions that must be attended to quickly, but are not life-threatening,” Mr Birgan said.
“That frees up our emergency department to focus on what it is designed to do, which is to care for patients who are critically ill or injured.”
The clinic can be contacted on 0437 025 427.
What to look for next
An additional Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will be established in Cairns North, adding to existing services in Cairns South and Townsville and expanding urgent care access across northern Queensland.
