Residents and visitors to Bega Valley will soon have better access to urgent care with ForHealth, in partnership with Bega Valley Medical Practice, selected to operate the new Bega Valley Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC).   

Following a competitive tender process led by COORDINARE - South Eastern NSW PHN, Bega Medicare UCC is expected to start seeing patients at Bega Valley Medical Practice, 61 Carp Street, Bega on 31 January 2026.  

Bega Valley Medicare UCC will be open for extended hours, seven days a week, and offer walk-in care that is fully bulk billed to support local communities, including visitors to the region. Initially Bega Medicare UCC will be open from 8am to 6pm, but will extend these opening hours in coming months.  

Medicare UCCs are being established by the Australian Government to operate independently from local emergency departments to alleviate pressure on local hospitals and general practices, especially after hours.   

Based on latest available data (2023-24) more than 56 per cent of presentations to the South East Regional Hospital in Bega were for non-urgent or semi-urgent care.  

Member for Eden Monaro, The Hon Kristy McBain MP said, “Congratulations to the Bega Valley Medical Practice - I’m thrilled the new Bega Urgent Care Clinic will soon be up and running. 

“This clinic will offer walk-in care to the community for a range of urgent treatments such as minor burns, cuts or infections, insect bites, respiratory illnesses, urinary tract infections or minor fractures.  

“Your local GP should continue to be your first point of contact, but Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are a great back up should you need urgent care that doesn’t require a trip to the emergency department,” said Ms McBain. 

COORDINARE’s CEO Prudence Buist said, “This new Medicare UCC will make it easier for people on the Far South Coast to get the urgent treatment they need – from highly qualified doctors and nurses.  

“The clinic will be completely bulk-billed meaning that people needing urgent but non-life-threatening care will save on out-of-pocket costs. 

“The Bega clinic will support health system resilience by providing timely care locally, reducing pressure on South East Regional Hospital, and complementing local GP and community health services,” said Ms Buist. 

Ninety Medicare UCCs are in operation across Australia, which have already seen more than 2 million presentations since the first sites opened in June 2023. This includes Medicare UCCs currently operating in Wollongong, Dapto, Queanbeyan and Batemans Bay.  

Pictured above: Michael Holland MP Member for Bega, The Hon Kristy McBain MP Member for Eden-Monaro, Dr Duncan McKinnon, Bega Valley Medical Practice (BVMP), Shannon Bull, Nurse Manager Bega Medicare UCC, back row Tom McLaughlin, Director Urgent Care, ForHealth, Prudence Buist, CEO COORDINARE and Sarah Little, Site Manager and Director of Nursing and Midwifery Bega Valley.