Somerville will get its promised Medicare Urgent Care Clinic after weeks of uncertainty about whether the service was being redirected to Hastings.
The confusion came when the South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (SEMPHN) released tender documents last week showing Hastings as the preferred location for the Peninsula clinic. That raised concerns the federal government’s commitment to Somerville was being quietly shifted.
Federal Labor has since stepped in to reassure locals. Health Minister Mark Butler’s office confirmed the Somerville clinic remains on track, and former-Labor candidate Sarah Race told STPL News it was a clear win for families.
“Families on the Mornington Peninsula deserve the best healthcare, and Labor is delivering this in Western Port.
Providing bulk billed care, for non-life threatening conditions, seven days a week, for extended hours and with no appointment needed is a big win for our community,” Ms Race said.
What the clinic will offer
The Somerville UCC will provide bulk-billed treatment for urgent but non-emergency conditions such as minor injuries, infections and illnesses. It will be open seven days a week, for extended hours, with no appointment needed.
The clinic is part of a broader national rollout of 50 new urgent care centres, including 12 in Victoria. Services are expected to be operating by December 2025.
A boost for local healthcare
For Somerville residents, the reaffirmation ends speculation and brings a long-awaited boost to local health services.
Community groups, including the Somerville Business Group have argued the town, with a growing population and fewer bulk-billing options than nearby Hastings, has been under-served for too long.
With the commitment now back on the table, attention will turn to the tender process and how soon the clinic can open its doors.
