Townsville’s Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) and headspace centre were in the spotlight recently when the Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health, the Honourable Emma McBride MP, visited the facilities. 

Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) accompanied Assistant Minister McBride on her recent Ministerial visit to the Townsville Medicare UCC and headspace Townsville. 

NQPHN CEO Sean Rooney said the Assistant Minister’s Townsville visit provided an opportunity to meet with the service providers and witness firsthand the impact they are having in the community. 

“It’s inspiring to visit providers on the ground and hear their stories and outcomes of North Queenslanders living happier, healthier, longer lives thanks to the work they are doing,” Mr Rooney said. 

“It’s our mission at Northern Queensland PHN that all North Queenslanders can access the right care at the right time when they need it most, from urgent care to mental health care for young people.” 

The first stop was the newly opened Townsville Medicare UCC, where Assistant Minister McBride, NQPHN CEO Sean Rooney, and Executive Director Health Services Commissioning Ruth Azzopardi toured the clinic with Townsville Medicare UCC’s lead project manager Kristie Wyeth and practice manager Megan Turner.  

Since opening in December, and at the time of publishing, the clinic has seen more than 1,600 people, averaging 38 visits a day, with the most common urgent care conditions including urinary tract infections (UTIs), tonsilitis, skin infections, and lacerations. 

The Townsville Medicare UCC offers walk-in care to treat urgent non-life-threatening conditions that can be managed without a trip to the emergency department but cannot wait for a regular appointment with a GP.   

“The Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Townsville is a fantastic example of our local health stakeholders in Townsville working together to create a new asset to help the community,” Mr Rooney said. 

“We know the Townsville University Hospital sees on average 280 people a day, and now with the Townsville Medicare UCC seeing about 38 people a day, it’s helping to take pressure off the hospital’s emergency department. 

“It’s also allowing people to access urgent care without having to wait for hours in the emergency room.” 

Mr Rooney said the Townsville Medicare UCC was jointly funded by the Federal and Queensland State Governments, and was making a tangible difference to the lives of Townsville residents.  

After visiting the Townsville Medicare UCC, Mr Rooney, Mrs Azzopardi, and Assistant Minister McBride toured headspace Townsville and spoke with the centre’s staff, including the headspace Townsville GP who is available three days a week.  

headspace Townsville provides counselling and other services for young people aged 12-25 to support their mental health, and is funded by NQPHN through the Department of Health and Aged Care. 

The trio also sat down with headspace Townsville Centre Manager Steven Brooke to discuss the mental health needs of young people in North Queensland.  

Mr Rooney said the tour offered valuable insight into the work headspace Townsville was doing with local young people. 

“The headspace Townsville team is doing some truly impactful work that is making a significant difference in the lives of young people in Townsville, including through programs for First Nations young people,” Mr Rooney said.  

Featured image caption: NQPHN CEO Sean Rooney and Executive Director Health Services Commissioning Ruth Azzopardi, pictured with the Hon Emma McBride MP, Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health, and Townsville Medicare UCC lead project manager Kristie Wyeth and practice manager Megan Turner.

Secondary image caption: NQPHN CEO Sean Rooney, Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health, the Hon Emma McBride MP, NQPHN Executive Director Health Services Commissioning Ruth Azzopardi, and headspace Townsville Centre Manager Steven Brooke.