Forster-Tuncurry is getting its first urgent care service, but locals hoping to walk through its doors by Christmas will have to wait until 2027, with no firm opening date yet.
The service will open at the Forster Community Health facility. It will offer free treatment for urgent, non-life-threatening conditions, so people who can’t wait for a GP appointment won’t have to travel to hospital.
“We’ve listened to the Forster-Tuncurry community and this new service will give people another option to access urgent care closer to home,” said Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park.
“The Minns Labor Government is improving access to medical care by delivering more health services in our regional communities.”
The local MP welcomed the news.
“There is no question this service will make a real difference for local families, particularly when someone becomes unwell after their GP has closed,” said Member for Myall Lakes Tanya Thompson.
But Thompson wants to know why the timeline has blown out.
She said the announcement followed her ongoing push for better access to local healthcare, including a meeting with Park in August.
“When I met with Minister Park in August, I made it very clear how desperately our community needed this service, and I was given an assurance it would be operating by Christmas,” Thompson said.
“Now we’re being told it won’t open until 2027, with no firm date in sight.”
“The proposed location has changed, the opening timeline has changed, and our community deserves to know why.”
Hunter New England Local Health District says the service is expected to open in early 2027, following extensive planning and community feedback. An opening date will be shared once recruitment is complete.
“I want to thank the community for their patience and for working with us as we’ve planned a service that responds to local needs,” said Hunter New England Local Health District Chief Executive Tracey McCosker.
“We’ve heard from the Forster-Tuncurry community that people want better access to care closer to home, and this new service is an important step forward.”
Labor also used the announcement to thank its local branch members.
“I particularly want to acknowledge the advocacy of our local Labor branch members who have advocated tirelessly for over a decade for this service to be delivered,” said Labor spokesperson for Myall Lakes Emily Suvaal.
“This is an important new service for the Forster-Tuncurry community, who has advocated for better access to public health services over many years.”
That didn’t sit well withThompson.
“What disappoints me most is that Labor managed to find room in its announcement to thank its own branch members, while the people who actually need this service are still waiting,” Thompson said.
Once open, the service will be staffed by a multidisciplinary team including medical, nursing, administrative, and allied health staff. It will provide face-to-face medical treatment and consultation, with referral pathways to external imaging and pathology providers.
It will run seven days a week, from 5pm to 10pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 10pm on weekends.
“Once open, our local team will provide care at no cost to patients for a range of urgent, non-life-threatening conditions, seven days a week,” McCosker said.
“Importantly, if someone needs a higher level of care, our staff will make sure they get the care they need through our broader health network.”
Park said the service was part of a broader push to improve healthcare access.
“This builds on the work we have already done to make healthcare more accessible, and ensure people can get the care they need, when they need,” Park said.
Further south, Thompson said the Forster service would not fix the gap in care for Bulahdelah.
“This announcement does not remove the need for accessible care for Bulahdelah and surrounding communities, and I will continue fighting for that service too,” she said.
“I welcome this progress and thank the residents and health professionals who have continued making the case for better local healthcare.”
Thompson said the job was not done yet.
“But an announcement does not mean the doors are open,” Thompson said.
“Recruitment still needs to be completed, and I will keep pressing the Minister to ensure our community can access this care as soon as possible.”
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