The Palaszczuk and Albanese governments are working to improve access to primary care for Queenslanders and reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments.

Eleven new Medicare Urgent Care Clinics will be rolled out across Queensland, with Expressions of Interest (EOI) now open for primary care health services.

One clinic will be located in Ipswich, with the suburb to be determined subject to the EOI process.

Services will be bulk billed – offered to locals free of charge – and the clinics will open for extended hours seven days a week.

They will also offer walk-in availability, and access to a pooled network of resources.

Attributable to Assistant Minister for Hydrogen Development and Member for Bundamba Lance McCallum:

“Ipswich locals will benefit from more access to primary care,” Mr McCallum said.

“Good primary care helps keep us healthy, and helps ease pressure on our emergency departments.

“I’m incredibly pleased to see this service come to our region, where it will deliver free treatment closer to home for a range of non-life-threatening conditions.”

Attributable to Member for Ipswich Jennifer Howard:

“This new clinic will operate in addition to our community’s nation-leading Satellite Hospital in South Ripley – currently under construction and set to be completed this year,” Ms Howard said.

“And of course, the Palaszczuk Government has invested $710 million to upgrade Ipswich Hospital.

“That investment will add 200 beds to our local hospital, and support more than 1,700 local construction jobs.”