General News
6 April, 2026
Urgent care clinic opens
A NEW urgent care clinic at Smithfield will ease pressure on Cairns Hospital’s emergency department by providing treatment for urgent but non-life-threatening conditions.
The Cairns North Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will also save patients having to queue up at the ED for a treatment because they cannot wait for a regular GP appointment.
Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) chief executive officer Ben Tooth said there was “a real need for urgent healthcare services and an additional clinic in Cairns will help people in the northern suburbs get the urgent care they need”.
“We undertook extensive planning and consultation with the local workforce and community and we are proud to work with Smithfield Central Doctors and our local partners to establish a clinic that will support a healthier future for northern Queenslanders.”
Partnered Health Primary Care chief executive officer Michael Broadbent said the service would give locals access to “timely, high‑quality care closer to home, while also easing pressure on the Cairns Hospital emergency department”. The service can provide care for conditions and illnesses such as gastroenteritis, urinary tract infections (UTIs), minor fractures or sprains.
