A new, free urgent care clinic has commenced operations in Phillip, located just over two kilometres from the Canberra Hospital, offering a significant boost to accessible healthcare in the Australian Capital Territory.
A Strategic Response to ED Overcrowding
The Woden Medicare Urgent Care Clinic opened its doors at 33 Colbee Court in Phillip on December 22, 2025. Operated by the Phillip Medical and Dental Centre, this GP-led facility provides bulk-billed services with extended hours, seven days a week. This initiative directly addresses federal government data revealing that approximately 44 per cent of hospital presentations in the ACT during the 2023-24 financial year were for semi-urgent or non-urgent conditions.
Unlike the nurse practitioner-led walk-in centres already operating across the city, this new clinic is staffed by general practitioners. It is designed to treat a wide range of non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries, providing a viable alternative to lengthy emergency department waits.
What Conditions Can Be Treated?
The clinic is equipped to handle numerous common medical issues, including:
- Minor infections, cuts, and mild burns
- Sprains, minor fractures, sports injuries, and neck or back pain
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Insect bites, rashes, and minor eye or ear problems
- Respiratory illnesses and gastroenteritis
Officials emphasise that life-threatening conditions—such as chest pain, severe trauma, difficulty breathing, or serious allergic reactions—should still be treated at a hospital emergency department.
Political and Community Support for the Clinic
The opening has been welcomed by local federal representatives as a critical step in strengthening Medicare and improving healthcare access. Member for Bean, David Smith, hailed the clinic as a "huge win for Canberrans," highlighting the convenience of bulk-billed urgent care "in the heart of Woden."
ACT Senator Katy Gallagher stated the facility would ease pressure on the Canberra Hospital, ensuring residents receive "fast, free care when health issues can't wait but aren't life-threatening." Federal Health Minister Mark Butler described the additional clinic as a "game changer" that will allow hospital staff to focus on more serious cases.
The Woden clinic, commissioned by the Capital Health Network, joins five other Medicare urgent care clinics or walk-in centres in Gungahlin, Belconnen, Dickson, Weston Creek, and Tuggeranong. Collectively, these free ACT clinics have recorded more than 279,000 patient presentations since 2023.
A Controversial Solution in a Low Bulk-Billing Region
The launch comes against a backdrop where the ACT has previously reported the lowest bulk-billing rates in the country, at just 53.9 per cent of GP visits being fee-free. While the government promotes these clinics as essential for Medicare, the model has faced criticism from some medical bodies.
The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has argued that presentations at urgent care clinics cost more than a standard GP consultation. Furthermore, the Australian Medical Association has previously called for a review into Canberra's walk-in centres, following reports that ACT public hospitals had the worst emergency department wait times in the country.
Despite this debate, the new Woden Medicare Urgent Care Clinic represents a direct investment into primary care infrastructure, aiming to provide immediate relief for both patients and the overburdened hospital system in the nation's capital.
