Scott Walters, Senior Program Manager at WentWest, Matt Baldwin, ForHealth, Dr Adriaan Nel, ForHealth, Michelle Quinn, Interim CEO at WentWest, The Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care, Andrew Charton MP, Simon Taylor-Cross, ForHealth, David Gyenge, ForHealth, Richard Hoskins, ForHealth
On Wednesday 19 June, it was an honour to welcome The Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care, and Andrew Charlton MP to tour our Westmead Medicare Urgent Care Clinic. During the visit, the Ministers connected with our Interim CEO, Michelle Quinn, as well as WentWest and ForHealth team members in a discussion on the positive impact of the introduction of Urgent Care to our health system.
On reflection of his visit and tour of the clinic, Minister Butler commented, “It was a pleasure to tour the Westmead Medicare Urgent Care Clinic last week and meet the great team at the centre. Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are a key part of the Albanese Government’s commitment to strengthen Medicare and make health care more accessible and affordable. We know Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are already delivering for people in Western Sydney with 17,600 presentations to the existing six Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in the west. This means patients have been able to receive urgent care quickly and for free including at the Westmead Medicare Urgent Care Clinic which has seen 5,536 presentations alone since opening in June 2023.”
Andrew Charlton MP also commented, “This clinic delivers what matters most to local families: fast, free health care when you need it most. It’s great to see this clinic treat over 5,000 patients who would have otherwise waited hours in emergency rooms. I’m proud to have delivered this vital service for our community.”
An announcement was made in the 2024-25 Budget that an additional $227 million will be spent on opening 29 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across the country.
This clinic, running from Wentworthville Medical and Dental Centre, is one of six urgent care initiatives currently open in Western Sydney. For more information on what Urgent Care Initiatives treat and locations, visit our Urgent Care webpage.
Information is correct as of 27 June 2024.