Sorell Medicare Urgent Care Clinic now open

L-R: Sorell Mayor Janet Gatehouse, Sorell Family Practice Manager Kerri Mus, Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing Rebecca White, and ForHealth CEO Andrew Cohen.

Tasmania’s newest Medicare Urgent Care Clinic has opened in Sorell, providing bulk-billed medical care over extended hours.

The Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon. Rebecca White MP, officially opened the new clinic at Shop 11/12 Cole Street on 19 December.

ForHealth was selected to operate the Sorell Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) following an open competitive tender process undertaken by Primary Health Tasmania. ForHealth is operating the clinic in partnership with the Sorell Family Practice.

Medicare UCCs are funded by the Australian Government, with funding for Tasmania’s three newest clinics – in Sorell, Kingston and Burnie – provided through Primary Health Tasmania (Tasmania PHN).

Primary Health Tasmania Acting CEO Susan Powell said the Sorell Medicare UCC works on a walk-in basis, with no appointment needed.

It is open seven days a week, initially from 10am to 8pm. Clinic hours will increase early next year, once renovations are completed.

“The clinic will help reduce pressure on our hospitals and let emergency departments focus on life-threatening conditions,” Ms Powell said.

“And importantly, there is no out-of-pocket costs for people using these services.”

Dr David Dalton, a GP with the Sorell Family Practice, said: “As a local GP for over 30 years, I know what a difference this new clinic will mean for the Sorell community. Now they have access to urgent medical care quickly and close to home, with seamless links to primary care.”

Kerri Mus, Practice Manager of the Sorell Family Practice, said: “I am proud to be part of this new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, which means locals can access fully bulk-billed, high-quality urgent care and don’t need to travel and wait at an emergency department.”

The three new Tasmanian clinics are in addition to existing Medicare UCCs in Devonport, Launceston, Bridgewater, and two in Hobart.

Click here to download this media release as a PDF.

Click here for more information about Tasmania’s new Medicare UCCs.

L-R: Primary Health Tasmania Acting CEO Susan Powell with Andrew Cohen, Assistant Minister White and Janet Gatehouse.