Urgent care

Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (UCCs) are a new model of urgent care.

Medicare UCCs can provide timely care that is bulk-billed (incurring no out of pocket expense) to walk-in patients in a general practice setting. They are staffed by doctors and nurses and available for when you can't see your GP, but don't need to go to the emergency department.

Medicare UCCs provide short-term, episodic care for non-life-threatening urgent conditions requiring same day assessment or treatment.

Medicare UCCs have been designed to provide people with more options and better access to primary care in the community, and assist with reducing pressure on local emergency departments.

Medicare UCCs are equipped to treat:

• minor illnesses – including but not limited to respiratory illness, gastrointestinal illness, urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted infections
• minor injuries – including but not limited to closed fractures, simple lacerations, simple eye injuries and minor burns.

Medicare UCCs can provide:

• wound management (gluing, suturing and dressings)
• incision and drainage of abscesses
• basic fracture management
• intravenous cannula insertion (IV antibiotics and IV rehydration fluids)
• urinary catheter management and changes
• removal of foreign bodies from ears and nose.

Minor Accident and Illness Centres

Minor Accident and Illness Centres (MAIC) deliver convenient and accessible healthcare where and when you need it. MAIC is a fast and affordable alternative to the emergency department for non-life-threatening conditions.

MAIC is equipped to treat:

• burns
• lacerations, cuts and abrasions
• minor fractures, broken bones and dislocations
• sprains, strains and sports injuries
• ear and eye injuries
• nausea and vomiting.

Satellite Hospitals

There are three Satellite Hospitals in the Metro North Health catchment – Caboolture Satellite Hospital (now open), Kallangur Satellite Hospital (opens late 2023) and Bribie Island Satellite Hospital (opens 2024).

Each Satellite Hospital offers a Minor Injury and Illness Clinic, which provides walk-in urgent care for illnesses and injuries not anticipated to be life-threatening in nature. This service is free for Medicare Card holders.

Satellite Hospital MIICs are run by a team of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals experienced in treating urgent medical needs who can assess, diagnose and treat a wide range of minor injuries in adults, adolescents and babies older than three months of age.

MIICs are equipped to treat:

• minor head injuries with no loss of consciousness
• minor burns and scalds
• sprains and strains
• suspected arm and lower leg broken bones
• eye infections, conjunctivitis or scratches to the eye
• foreign bodies in the eyes, ears or nose
• grazes and splinters
• bites and stings
• skin, ear, throat and chest infections
• minor allergic reactions
• urinary tract infections.

MIICs also provide:

• onsite x-ray and ultrasound
• ECG
• wound care
• plastering and limb immobilisation.

MIIC teams work closely with the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) – if your illness or injury can be cared for at the clinic, the QAS can take you there.