Nearly 32,000 patients helped as Dapto Medicare Urgent Care Clinic turns two!

Carol Berry MP

Member for Whitlam

Tuesday 17th July 2026

MEDIA RELEASE

It’s two years since the Dapto Medicare Urgent Care Clinic opened its doors, providing fully bulk-billed urgent care to Illawarra residents. Nearly 32,000 patients have visited the clinic since July 2024.

The clinic is open seven days a week, with extended hours and provides fully bulk-billed care for walk-in urgent, but not life-threatening, medical conditions. As well as GP and nursing staff, the Dapto Medicare Urgent Care Clinic has important diagnostic services such as radiology and pathology on site.

There have been more than 3.3 million visits to Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across Australia since the first one opened in June 2023, with projections to deliver 2 million instances of care per year with all clinics now open.

Nationally, more than one in four of these presentations were patients aged under 15 years old, more than one in four were on weekends, and one in four were after 5pm on weekdays when many GPs are closed.

A recent evaluation found Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are achieving their purpose by providing timely urgent care and reducing equivalent Emergency Department presentations by around 10 per cent nationally.

The Albanese Government has delivered all 137 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, meaning four in five Australians now live within a 20-minute drive of a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.

Quotes Attributable to Federal Member for Whitlam, Carol Berry:

“The Dapto Medicare Urgent Care Clinic has made a real difference to local families by providing convenient, bulk-billed urgent care close to home.”

“Dapto continues to be one of the fastest-growing communities in New South Wales, and this clinic ensures residents can access urgent care when they need it without having to travel further afield.”

“By treating urgent but non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries, the Dapto Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is helping take pressure off our local emergency departments and ensuring people get care sooner.”

"Nearly 32,000 visits to the Dapto Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in just two years, shows how much local families value having free urgent care available close to home."

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