Commissioned services
The Australian Government has invested in 60+ Medicare UCCs nationally, to deliver a new model of care to reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments (EDs). Twelve Medicare UCCs have been established in Queensland, with one in Cairns and one in Townsville.
Anyone can access urgent care at the clinics when they need medical attention for an illness or injury that is non-life-threatening and can be managed without a trip to the ED but cannot wait for an appointment with their regular GP.
The Medicare UCC is a bulk-billed walk-in service and patients don't need an appointment or referral to be seen.
If required, diagnostic services, such as radiology and pathology, will be provided with no out-of-pocket fees to patient.
Medicare UCCs are not a replacement for people seeing their regular GP and patients will always be referred back to their regular GP for follow up care. A patient’s regular GP should be the first point of contact for routine and preventative health care.
- Monday to Friday 8am - 10pm
- Saturday, Sunday, and Public Holidays 9am - 6pm
- Patients presenting to the Cairns South Medicare UCC with urgent but not-life-threatening conditions that require an x-ray or ultrasound are now able to access these services on-site with no out-of-pocket costs. Radiology is available from 10am to 6pm seven days a week. Ultrasound is available 10am to 6pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- 5b Walker Road, Edmonton
- (07) 4015 2987
- cairnsurgentcare.com.au
- Open 7 days a week, from 11am to 9pm
- 86 Thuringowa Drive, Thuringowa Central
- (07) 4434 5090
- townsvilleucc.com.au
The best place to go for care depends on the level of care required. Read more about conditions and symptoms below.
A patient's regular GP should continue to be the first point of contact for non-emergency, routine, and preventative health care. Some GPs also offer same day appointments.
Care provided by a regular GP includes:
- diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of diseases and illnesses
- general screening and health checks
- vaccinations and prescriptions
- mental health advice
- family planning advice
- referrals for tests, scans or specialist care.
Medicare UCCs will not see people for things like chronic disease management or preventative health procedures such as cervical screening tests.
Urgent care is when you need medical attention for an illness or injury that can be managed without a trip to the emergency department, but cannot wait for a regular appointment with a general practitioner (GP).
Medicare UCCs provide acute episodic care and treatment that does not require a hospital admission. This may include:
- minor infections
- minor fractures, sprains, sports injuries and neck and back pain
- urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- minor cuts
- insect bites and rashes
- minor eye and ear problems
- respiratory illness
- gastroenteritis
- mild burns.
Emergency or life-threatening illnesses and injuries require immediate medical attention and management by an emergency department or hospital.
If a patient has a life-threatening injury or illness, they should not attend a Medicare UCC. Call triple zero (000) or go to your nearest emergency department.
Do not attend a Medicare UCC for:
- chest pain or tightness
- breathing difficulties
- uncontrollable bleeding
- severe burns
- poisoning
- numbness or paralysis
- unconsciousness
- unresponsiveness
- seizures
- ongoing fever in infants.
Yes, if the issue is an urgent care matter as outlined in this flyer, you can provide patients with the contact details of the closest Medicare UCC. However, patients do not need a referral to attend a Medicare UCC.
No. There are limited MBS items that patients can access at the Medicare UCC and the patient’s usual GP is still the first point of contact for non-emergency, routine, and preventative health care.
Medicare UCCs won’t be able to see people for things like chronic disease management or preventive health procedures such as cervical screening tests. A patient attending a Medicare UCC for non-emergency, routine or preventative health care will be referred back to their nominated usual GP.
Yes. Any patient attending a Medicare UCC will have a discharge summary issued. The summary will be:
-
uploaded into My Health Record (unless requested not do so by the patient)
-
electronically provided to the patient’s nominated usual GP/practice within 24 hours.
If electronic transfer is not possible or the patient does not name a usual GP, the patient will be given a hard copy of the discharge summary.
The Medicare UCC will also advise the patient’s nominated usual GP of any test results.
Yes, the Townsville Medicare UCC has arrangements in place with diagnostic imaging and laboratory-based pathology services near the Medicare UCC.
Patients presenting to the Cairns South Medicare UCC with urgent but not-life-threatening conditions that require an x-ray or ultrasound are now able to access these services on-site with no out-of-pocket costs. Radiology is available from 10am to 6pm seven days a week. Ultrasound is available 10am to 6pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The Townsville and Cairns UCCs will provide urgent health care with no out-of-pocket costs for patients. Any diagnostic services, such as radiology and pathology, will also be provided with no out-of-pocket costs for patients.
A national and local communications campaign will help people identify the right place to go for care, depending on their condition and level of care required. Various resources are available on the Department of Health and Aged Care website here.
NQPHN aims to improve health outcomes for all North Queenslanders by working with GPs, pharmacists, dentists, nurses, allied health professionals, secondary care providers, hospitals, and the wider community.
NQPHN responds to the health needs of its region while being guided by the National PHN Performance and Quality Framework, priority areas for targeted work, and national priorities, as decided by the Australian Government.
All commissioning activity aligns with NQPHN's Strategic Plan and priorities.
NQPHN has developed the below infographic that summarises commissioning priorities for 2024.
Click on the links in the 'more on this topic' section to learn more about each priority area and project.
In 2022, NQPHN undertook the following commissioning projects. These initiatives are now delivering important services to communities across the region.
The ITC program aims to improve chronic disease outcomes for First Nations peoples by improving access to primary health care, including culturally appropriate mainstream services, and by providing care coordination and access to brokerage funds (Supplementary Services) for eligible patients.
In 2019, NQPHN commissioned KPMG to undertake a review and redesign of the ITC program. A report was published that described the results of the assessment, evaluation, and co-design options for future commissioning of the ITC program. It made 10 recommendations for changes to the program.
In 2022, all recommendations within the KPMG report were implemented. This means that 12 Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCHOs) are now delivering all service delivery aspects of the ITC program (with mainstream general practices), using a localised model for their community. Indigenous Allied Health Australia have been engaged to provide the cultural capacity building component of ITC across the NQPHN region.
The new ITC model aims to support the role of ACCHOs in providing care to their communities and broaden the reach of the program to communities across the region, including in rural locations.
Townsville Head to Health is a service that connects adults who are experiencing high levels of distress and seeking help with local mental health and wellbeing support services.
The service provides a welcoming, safe, and inclusive space, embracing a ‘no wrong door’ approach. It assists people to receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time for both their immediate needs and in establishing connections for ongoing support.
NQPHN is proud to be working with Neami National, the lead agency for the Townsville Head to Health service. In partnership with NQPHN and others, Neami National co-designed a local service model to ensure the service is accessible to the people of Townsville and is connected with other local services.
Neami National also provides the national Head to Health phone service in the North Queensland region.
Find out more and get in touch with Head to Health
- You can visit Townsville Head to Health at 32 Walker Street, Townsville, and contact the service on (07) 4766 8444.
- Townsville Head to Health is open seven days a week and provides extended hours to improve accessibility for the community.
- Visit the Townsville Head to Health website for more information.
- You can also call the national Head to Health phone service on 1800 595 212 from Monday to Friday.
The headspace centres in Mackay and Townsville form part of a national network of centres across Australia to provide access to early intervention services for young people with mental health concerns.
The headspace model aims is to provide young people with accessible, appropriate, and effective low to moderate intensity services. Centres act as a one-stop shop for young people, providing access to youth-friendly health professionals in a safe, confidential, and youth-friendly environment.
Centres also take a proactive role in promoting awareness and understanding of youth mental health issues in their community.
Following a select tender, NQPHN awarded a contract to Stride to deliver the Townsville headspace centre, and to North West Remote Health to deliver the Mackay headspace centre, along with its satellites in Proserpine and Sarina. NQPHN is pleased to be working with these providers to deliver accessible services to young people.
In 2023, NQPHN has prioritised the improvement of culturally safe care to First Nations young people.
Read our media releases below:
Commissioned services
NQPHN receives federal funding through the PHN Afterhours Program which aims to address gaps in afterhours service arrangements and improve service integration within the region with key objectives to:
- increase the efficiency and effectiveness of afterhours primary health care for patients, particularly those with limited access to health services
- improve access to afterhours primary health care through effective planning, coordination, and support for population based afterhours primary health care
- improve the availability of afterhours GP services through working collaboratively with GPs.
The commissioning priorities for 2023 were:
- Afterhours GP telehealth (Read the new lead provider announcement here.)
- Afterhours primary care in Townsville and Mackay (Find out more and apply here.)
- Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (UCCs)
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) (Queensland Section) provides an after-hours telehealth service for rural, remote, and regional residents of north Queensland needing urgent medical care.
This service is normally only available to people outside of the major population centres but has been extended short-term to take in flood affected areas of the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital Health Service where patients with urgent medical needs are unable to access in hours support.
Operating hours are:
- 6pm – 11pm Monday to Friday
- Saturday 1pm – 12am and
- Sundays and Public Holidays 24 hours.
Please phone 1300 697 622 for an appointment or find out more online.
Proposals now open for afterhours primary care services in Mackay and Townsville regions
NQPHN welcomes new lead provider for afterhours telehealth services
Registration of Interest now open for new Medicare Urgent Care Clinics
Our Region, Our People: Meet Arthur