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The Oxley Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) is contributing to Queensland’s healthcare solution by providing free, bulk-billed urgent care services, averaging 17 patients per day and helping reduce pressure on public emergency departments.

The urgent care clinics in Queensland were introduced as a strategic response to the increasing demand on public hospital emergency departments. The Oxley Medicare UCC, one of several bulk-billed centres, opened on 26 November 2024. Located within the Canossa Hospital complex, it serves the south-west Brisbane community with accessible healthcare for non-life-threatening conditions.

Growing Demand Across Queensland

Urgent care clinics across Queensland are treating an average of 568 patients daily, with demand spiking by 15% over the Christmas and New Year period. These clinics aim to divert minor medical cases from emergency departments, where lacerations, respiratory infections, and ear issues often account for significant patient loads. Over a quarter of the clinic’s patients are children under 15, highlighting its role in addressing family healthcare needs.

Oxley Clinic’s Role

The Oxley clinic sees an average of 17 patients daily and operates from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., offering walk-in services without appointments. It provides treatment for minor injuries and illnesses, such as fractures, sprains, mild burns, gastroenteritis, and respiratory issues. This service alleviates strain on larger hospitals while ensuring timely care for residents.

Oxley Medicare UCC receiving at least 17 patients a day — *Photo Credit: Growlife Medical Centre & Doctors Oxley/Google Maps*

Community Sentiment and Benefits

The south-west Brisbane community has responded positively to the clinic’s accessibility. Local families have noted the convenience of bulk-billed walk-in care, which reduces waiting times and financial barriers for treatment. The clinic’s strategic location within the Canossa Hospital complex adds to its appeal, providing a trusted, convenient setting.

Broader Challenges and Future Outlook

While the Oxley clinic is effectively supporting its community, its average daily attendance of 17 patients suggests room for increased capacity or greater outreach. The broader success of Queensland’s urgent care clinic initiative will depend on sustained investment and adaptation to growing healthcare needs.

Closing Paragraph

The Oxley Medicare Urgent Care Clinic exemplifies how targeted healthcare services can address immediate community needs while alleviating pressure on emergency departments. Future adjustments to patient capacity and broader clinic networks will determine the long-term success of this initiative.

Published 17-Jan-2025

The Oxley Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) has officially opened along Seventeen Mile Rocks Rd, providing free, high-quality healthcare to local residents.

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The new clinic aims to address urgent but non-life-threatening medical needs, offering an alternative to long waits in hospital emergency departments.

Oxley Medicare — Photo credit: Growlife Medical Centre & Doctors Oxley/Google Maps

Open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m, the clinic welcomes walk-in patients with no appointment required. Staffed by highly trained doctors and nurses, the clinic offers bulk-billed services, ensuring patients can access care at no cost by simply presenting their Medicare card.

Conditions treated at the Oxley UCC include cuts, viral infections, rashes, and sprained ankles. By providing accessible care, the clinic aims to reduce the burden on nearby hospitals, including Ipswich Hospital and Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital, where 23 percent of presentations in 2022-23 were for semi-urgent or non-urgent matters.

Expansion of UCCs Across the Region

A similar clinic has also opened on Smith Road in Goodna, marking an expansion of the Medicare UCC initiative in Queensland. These two new clinics join 13 others across the state, located in areas such as Bundaberg, Cairns South, Gold Coast, and Townsville.

Since their inception, the Medicare UCCs in Queensland have served over 158,000 patients, with more than one in four visits involving children under the age of 15. The clinics have been particularly busy outside regular working hours, with over a quarter of visits occurring after 5 pm on weekdays or during weekends.

Supporting Community Health

Commissioned by Brisbane South Primary Health Network (PHN) and funded by the Australian Government, the Oxley clinic is operated by Growlife Medical Oxley. It opened on November 26, following an independent selection process that identified practices capable of meeting the program’s goals.

These clinics not only enhance access to urgent care for local residents but also play a critical role in easing demand on hospital emergency departments, ensuring resources are reserved for life-threatening cases.

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The Oxley Medicare UCC is located at Growlife Medical Oxley, 169 Seventeen Mile Rocks Rd, Oxley. For more information or to seek care, residents can visit during the clinic’s operating hours.

Published 13-December-2024

Tag: urgent care clinic

Oxley Urgent Care Clinic Eases Pressure on Emergency Departments