The Australian Government has announced plans to establish a new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Armadale, as part of a nationwide expansion aimed at improving access to medical care for non-life-threatening conditions.

This clinic will offer completely bulk billed services and is expected to alleviate the strain on the Armadale Health Service.

The decision to locate the new facility in Armadale was made after discussions with the Western Australian Government.

The WA Primary Health Alliance will commission the new clinic, with an Expression of Interest process to identify service providers commencing soon.

Establishment of the Armadale facility is part of a larger initiative that includes the building of 29 additional Urgent Care Clinics across Australia.

The federal government allocated funds worth A$227m ($151.9m)under the 2024–25 Budget for establishing these clinics.

The clinics are designed to treat a variety of urgent but non-life-threatening conditions such as cuts, sprains, infections and rashes.

To be functional seven days a week with extended hours, the new facility will be equipped to provide accessible care to the community.

Since the opening of initial Urgent Care Clinics in WA in June 2023, over 400,000 patients have been treated at various locations nationwide, including more than 45,000 in Western Australian clinics in Rockingham, Midland, Beeliar, Clarkson, Perth City, Broome, and Bunbury.

Notably, over one in four visits to the WA clinics are claimed to involve children under the age of 15 years.

Australian Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler said: “Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are already delivering for West Australians. Tens of thousands of patients have been able to receive urgent care quickly and for free.
 
“A Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Armadale will mean more West Australians can access high quality urgent care without having to wait in a hospital emergency department.”