Dog bites, e-scooter and fishing hook accidents, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and lacerations - the Cairns South Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Edmonton continues to help people with their urgent care needs. 

And the clinic will be open for the upcoming public holidays, including Easter, ANZAC Day and Labour Day. 

It’s been 16 months since the clinic opened its doors during Tropical Cyclone Jasper and floods in December 2023 to provide an alternative service for the urgent, but not life threatening, healthcare needs of the region’s residents from Cairns and the Northern Beaches to Port Douglas, Mareeba, and Innisfail. 

Kate Gunn, Founder and Director of Balance! Healthcare, which operates the Cairns South Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, said patient numbers were increasing steadily. 

“Cyclone Jasper tried to prevent our opening but only delayed us by one day due to power outages,” Ms Gunn said.  

“When we opened the doors, our first patient was already waiting outside. It’s been busy ever since. 

“We remain committed to educating patients and practices about the types of presentations appropriate for the urgent care clinic, while emphasising that we are not a replacement for a patient’s regular GP.” 

The clinic’s Centre Manager Anna Stuy said presentations had been varied. 

“Presentations have ranged from dog and animal bites, e-scooter accidents, UTIs, lacerations, coughs and colds, fishing hook removals, ring removals, ear infections, dental infections, foreign body removals, fevers ... the list goes on,” Ms Stuy said. 

“We welcome Queensland Ambulance Service transfers and emergency department diversions, and look forward to refining our processes further.”