The Australian Government has announced the opening of the Sorell Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC), increasing access to urgent care for residents in Sorell, Tasmania.

Commissioned by the Tasmanian Primary Health Network, the clinic is open seven days a week with extended operating hours. Patients can attend without an appointment, with all care provided being bulk billed.

This UCC is staffed by nurses and doctors trained to manage urgent but non-life-threatening conditions such as sprains, cuts, and viral infections.

By offering an alternative to hospital emergency departments, the Sorell Medicare UCC aims to reduce pressure on the Royal Hobart Hospital.

Data from 2024-2025 shows that approximately 32% of visits to the hospital involved semi-urgent or non-urgent conditions.

The Sorell clinic joins five other Medicare UCCs operating in Devonport, Launceston, Bridgewater, and Hobart.

Two additional clinics in Kingston and Burnie are scheduled to open in the coming months. The expansion aligns with the Australian Government’s goal to have four out of five Australians live within a 20-minute drive of a clinic.

Since June 2023, the Medicare UCCs have recorded over 2.2 million visits nationally, with more than 130,000 in Tasmanian clinics.

The usage pattern shows that over a quarter of visits occur on weekends, and more than a third of weekday visits happen after 5pm.

Families with children make up the majority of patients, with about one in four visits by young people under 15.

Australian Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler said: “The Sorell Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is a game changer for families in the region. The clinic will ease pressure on the emergency department at the Royal Hobart Hospital and free up staff to provide care to people with more serious conditions.

“The Sorell Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is a key part of the Albanese Government’s commitment to the region to make healthcare more accessible and affordable.”

In June 2024, the Australian Government announced plans to open two Medicare UCCs in south-west Sydney.