Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman said the clinic was “heading towards closure”. Photo: Region.
The future of a government-funded healthcare clinic in the NSW Southern Tablelands appears uncertain, less than a year after opening.
The Goulburn Urgent Care Service opened in August 2024 and was staffed by several GPs and nurses.
This type of clinic is designed to reduce pressure on emergency departments, meaning people with non-emergency illnesses and injuries don’t head to an ED for treatment.
In a statement, Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman said a “trusted source” had told her the service would be closing on 30 June.
She said this raised questions about how to staff these clinics, despite community support for them.
“Now, it’s heading towards closure – and not because the community doesn’t need it, but because NSW Health has failed to secure a contract that allows the service to be run sustainably,” she said.
“The very model promoted by Labor to take pressure off hospitals’ emergency departments, has driven up the demand for doctors. This means that providers can’t meet their pay requirements and makes it impossible to staff these services.”
Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain accused the Liberal Party of “playing politics with this important service” and said she supported the clinic’s operations.
“On behalf of our community, I have spoken to the Health Minister and the NSW Government remains committed to urgent care services in Goulburn,” she said.
The Goulburn Urgent Care Service is co-located within Marima Medical Clinic.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said he was committed to finding a solution that kept the service open.
“The money’s been made available, but when it comes to the provision of these kind of primary care facilities, they’re not like emergency departments,” he said.
“We’ve got to work with private providers, and we do that on a commercial basis across NSW.”
The service is being delivered in partnership with the Coordinare – South Eastern NSW Primary Health Network.
A spokesperson for COORDINARE declined to comment.
A spokesperson for Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said discussions were ongoing about the clinic’s future.
“NSW Health has been working closely with the primary health network in an attempt to maintain continuity of service at the Goulburn Urgent Care Service,” they said.
“The NSW Government remains committed to urgent care services in Goulburn.”
The spokesperson said regional and rural areas were being hit hardest by medical workforce shortages, which were labelled “a challenge to our health system”.
