Operator of new Burnie Medicare Urgent Care Clinic announced

The operator of the new Burnie Medicare Urgent Care Clinic has been announced following a competitive open tender process undertaken by Primary Health Tasmania.

Anne Urquhart MP, federal Member for Braddon, announced that Burnie Health Hub had been selected to establish and operate the Burnie Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) on 15 January.

This new clinic will be located at 20 Mooreville Road, Park Grove, and is expected to begin delivering care in the coming months.

The clinic will initially operate with support from the Launceston Medical Centre, which runs the Launceston Medicare UCC. It will then partner with Park Grove Medical Centre, which will open at the same location later in 2026.

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

Primary Health Tasmania General Manager of Health System Improvement Susan Powell said the selection of the operator is a big step towards better access to bulk-billed urgent medical care for people in the Burnie area.

“Burnie Health Hub is committed to working as quickly as it can to open the doors to the clinic,” Ms Powell said.

“The Burnie Medicare UCC will work on a walk-in basis, with no appointment needed, and will be open extended hours – seven days a week.

“This will help reduce pressure on our hospitals and let emergency departments focus on life-threatening conditions.

“And importantly, there will be no out-of-pocket costs for people using this service.”

Ms Powell said it’s important for people to have a regular GP for ongoing care, but Medicare UCCs have a role to play when people need urgent care and can’t access their usual medical team.

Launceston Medical Centre spokesperson Dr Jerome Muir Wilson said the Burnie Medicare UCC will be located alongside a range of community and allied health services.

“Conveniently situated less than two kilometres from the North West Regional Hospital, the clinic will play a key role in easing demand on local emergency departments and improving access to urgent but non-life-threatening care,” Dr Muir Wilson said.

“The new Burnie clinic will be supported by the highly experienced team from the Launceston Medicare UCC, one of the first Medicare UCCs to open in Australia in July 2023 and now recognised as one of the busiest nationwide.

“This partnership ensures Burnie benefits from proven systems, clinical expertise and a deeply embedded culture of patient-centred care.”

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

More information about Tasmania’s new Medicare UCCs is available here.

Click here to download this media release as a PDF.