Eleven new Medicare UCCs will be established in Queensland, including 2 locations in the Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) region. These locations are Cairns and Townsville. Practices in these locations and surrounding suburbs may wish to submit a ROI.

Accredited general practices and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services located within the designated areas of Cairns (and surrounding suburbs) and Townsville (and surrounding suburbs) can submit a ROI from 1pm Friday 24 February until 1pm Friday 24 March 2023.

We encourage you to register your interest if you would like to learn more about establishing a Medicare UCC or consider a partnership with others to establish a Medicare UCC.

The Australian Government has worked closely with the Queensland Government on the design and approach to Medicare UCCs.

PHNs will commission Medicare UCCs in Queensland. This will require PHNs to work closely with the Australian Government, the Queensland Department of Health, Hospital and Health Services, and local health service providers.

The new clinics will be located in existing facilities, such as general practices and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.

Medicare UCCs will provide treatment for urgent, but not life-threatening, illnesses and injuries requiring same day assessment for people who may otherwise have visited an emergency department.

The clinics will have extended hours of operation, appropriately trained staff, walk-in availability, access to a pooled network of resources, and the ability to streamline referrals into local hospitals. They will be bulk billed, be open seven days a week, and accept walk in patients.

If your practice is within the designated locations and you have not yet received an email inviting you to register an interest, please contact procurement@nqphn.com.au

As this ROI is the first stage of the process, all queries must be sent to procurement@nqphn.com.au