Tracey Roberts (Pearce, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was very happy when our wonderful minister for health, Mark Butler, officially opened our first urgent care clinic in my electorate of Pearce, in the suburb of Clarkson, in August last year. I'm even happier to advise that urgent medical care is much easier for my local community to access. Before the clinic opened, residents requiring urgent medical attention had to make the journey to the Joondalup Health Campus, which is a considerable distance for those living in the northern parts of the Pearce electorate. Whilst Joondalup Health Campus is where patients with life-threatening injuries or illnesses attend, it is important that our community now has another option available to them for medical assistance.

The urgent care clinic in Clarkson has already had 5,800 presentations, and the feedback has been excellent, with patients advising of timely, professional and friendly assistance. The clinic is equipped to treat many conditions and injuries, and an appointment is not necessary.

The Albanese Labor government has made urgent care cheaper and more accessible for our community and for those seeking medical care at short notice—and free under Medicare. The Clarkson Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is a most welcome initiative in my community, and I sincerely thank Dr Tim Koh and his amazing team for their dedication and support. This is without doubt another example of the Albanese Labor government listening to the community and delivering.