A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will ensure that Western Australians find it easier to get the free urgent care they need by providing additional funding to the Beeliar, Bunbury and Clarkson Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.

These three are amongst the busiest in Australia with each clinic treating more than 20,000 patients since opening.

Labor is committing an additional $8.4 million in funding to help boost their capacity by extending the hours of operation or bringing on additional staff to treat even more patients.

These three WA Urgent Care Clinics will share in that funding, with specific allocations to be determined based on need and in discussion with local providers.

A re-elected Albanese Government will work with the providers of the Medicare Urgent Care Clinics to determine the best way to boost capacity, whether through extending the hours of operation or bringing on additional staff.

We will also open another six Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in Bateman, Ellenbrook, Geraldton, Mirrabooka, Mundaring and Yanchep.

The Medicare Urgent Care Clinics have all seen more than 300 people on average each week since opening.

The Liberals say the Albanese Labor Government’s Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are “wasteful spending”.

Peter Dutton will close every Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, forcing over a million Australians a year back into the waiting rooms of busy hospital emergency departments.

Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are open seven days a week, for extended hours.

No appointment is needed, patients can walk in and receive free, urgent care – fully bulk billed – without waiting hours in a busy hospital emergency department.

This is an election commitment.

Quotes attributable to Member for Fremantle, Josh Wilson:

“The Beeliar Medicare Urgent Care Clinic has had more than 21,000 presentations since it was opened by Labor and this extra funding is a welcome investment in our community’s wellbeing.

“I know many families have used the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic when otherwise they would have been stuck waiting for hours at the Fiona Stanley Hospital.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Pearce, Tracey Roberts:

“The Clarkson Medicare Urgent Care Clinic has been a game changer for our community and Labor will boost its capacity so it can treat even more people.

“A re-elected Labor government will also open a new clinic in Yanchep to extend free, urgent care to more families in need.”

Quotes attributable to Labor candidate for Forrest, Tabitha Dowding:

“The Bunbury Medicare Urgent Care Clinic sees almost 350 people each week but this funding boost will support doctors to help even more.

“Only Labor will strengthen Medicare by delivering more bulk billing and more Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.”