Labor promises to open Bulli Hospital’s ‘urgent care unit’ seven days a week if elected

AN elected NSW Labor Government will expand the operating hours of Bulli Hospital’s ‘Urgent Care Centre’ to seven days a week instead of the current five days (Monday to Friday) with the aim to take pressure off Wollongong Hospital’s ‘Emergency Department’.

The 2023 NSW state election will be held on March 25 to elect the 58th Parliament of New South Wales.

The incumbent minority Liberal/National Coalition government, led by Premier Dominic Perrottet, is seeking to win a fourth successive four-year term in office. They will be challenged by the Labor Party, led by Opposition Leader Chris Minns.

Also re-contesting two seats in the northern Illawarra will be sitting Labor member, Ryan Park in Keira, and sitting Liberal member, Lee Evans in Heathcote. The Greens, other minor parties and several independents will also contest the election.

The Bulli Urgent Care Centre provides treatment for minor injury and illness, similar to a general practitioner (GP). The model of care enables patients to be seen and assessed by specialist nurses who, in consultation with medical teams, deliver treatment and management plans for presenting patients.

Currently under the Liberal Government the Bulli Urgent Care Centre operates Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm with Nurse Practitioners and Visiting Medical Officers (VMOs) attending to a majority of triage Category 4/5 presentations. 

State MP for Keira and Shadow Minister for Health, Ryan Park said a Chris Minns Labor Government will extend the Bulli Urgent Care Centre to a seven day a week service, allowing for patients to be diverted away from the stretched Wollongong Emergency Department. 

“NSW Labor understands how important Bulli Hospital is to the residents of the northern suburbs,” Mr Park said.

“The Liberals have left the Urgent Care Centre only operating five days a week. We want to fix that.

“That is why we are determined to give the Bulli Hospital Urgent Care Centre a fresh start and increase the hours of operation.

“This proposal will benefit the people of northern suburbs and the many visitors we have over weekends.

“We want to boost this service because we know there will be continued growth in our region. Providing timely urgent care and will ease the pressures off the emergency department in Wollongong.”

Mr Park said according to the most recent Bureau of Health Information data, more than 60 per cent of patients waited longer than four hours in the ED and more than 2,300 gave up waiting and left without any treatment.

NSW Labor candidate for the seat of Heathcote, Maryanne Stuart said health is the number one concern for many resident in the electorate.

“I am very pleased a Minns Labor Government will expand the services at the Bulli Urgent Care Centre,” she said.

“This means locals can seek timely medical assistance and not sit for hours in the Wollongong ED.”

Labor’s plans for Bulli Urgent Care Centre includes:

• Monday to Friday service 8am to 8pm/Saturday and Sunday service 8.30am-5pm to include Nurse Practitioner and GP VMO workforce and extended radiology services. 
• Additional support from the Virtually Enhanced Community Care Service and My Emergency Doctor platform.
• Address the difficulty in accessing primary care appointments at short notice
• Reducing attendances to the ED’s.

Free subscription to The Bulli & Clifton Times

PAYPAL TIP JAR

YOU can support The Bulli & Clifton Times and/or the Looking Back local history websites with a donation through PayPal. Your generous patronage of my work and research, however small it appears to you, will greatly help me with my continuing costs, and help support independent journalism and local news media. You can leave a small donation here of $2, or several small donations, just increase the amount as you like. Your support helps provide an independent and free source of local news and information

A$2.00

OR DONATE BY DEBIT OR CREDIT CARD

Don’t have PayPal? Instead, you can support my work by leaving a secure $2 debit or credit card donation. Your generous patronage of my work and research, however small it appears to you, will greatly help with my continuing publication costs.