More than 2000 people have presented to the new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic at Nowra in the two months since the doors opened on March 5, 2026.
Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips said that was 2000 people that weren’t clogging up the Shoalhaven Hospital emergency department.
“The numbers prove the Nowra Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is definitely doing what it’s supposed to do, and that is taking pressure off the busy ED, and providing free, walk-in care for urgent but non-life-threatening conditions,” she said.
“This was a major election commitment for me, and I’m so proud to see the clinic up and running and providing such an important service for our community seven days a week.
“People have literally stopped me in the street and in the supermarket to say how great the clinic is, and to thank me for securing it – these are patients, hospital staff and families of people who have received excellent care without having to go to the hospital.”
Located in Scenic Drive Nowra, the clinic was delivered following the outstanding success of the Batemans Bay Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, now providing two clinics in Gilmore.
The Albanese Labor Government is set to make a major Medicare investment in the upcoming Budget, making Medicare Urgent Care Clinics a permanent part of Australia’s health system.
This significant health measure includes an additional $1.8 billion over five years from 2025-26 and $525.6 million a year ongoing from 2030-31 to keep Medicare Urgent Care Clinics open and free.
The Medicare Urgent Care Clinics at Nowra and Batemans Bay offer walk-in and bulk-billed urgent care, seven days a week for extended hours.
They’re equipped to treat a range of conditions and injuries that need urgent attention but aren’t life threatening such as burns, cuts, stings and rashes, viral infections, sprains and fractures, respiratory illnesses and gastroenteritis allowing local hospital emergency departments to focus on emergencies and life-threatening conditions.
More than one in four presentations at Medicare Urgent Care Clinics have been patients aged under 15 years old, more than one in four were on weekends, and one in four were after 5pm on weekdays when many GPs are not available.
“If you or your kids have a weekend sporting injury, you know you can go to the Urgent Care Clinic at Nowra or Batemans Bay and walk in for free treatment,” Mrs Phillips said.
