Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are an essential part of our health system. It was our Labor Government that identified the gaps in the system and took action to establish the clinics across the country.

I have listened to many residents across Maitland & Port Stephens who have raised with me the need for better access to GPs and to ease the pressure on our hardworking emergency departments at both Maitland and John Hunter Hospitals.

That's why I'm calling on the Federal Government to establish a new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic to serve our growing community.

A little bit about Urgent Care Clinics:

• Clinics are open for extended hours, including weekends
• No appointment necessary
• Services are fully bulk-billed with no out of pocket cost for patients
• Provides urgent, but not life-threatening, medical care.