Home Australia Minister sports an eye patch after shocking injury in her backyard

Minister sports an eye patch after shocking injury in her backyard

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Katy Gallagher (pictured) sported an oval-shaped bandage on Saturday.

Katy Gallagher has urged Australians to be careful when gardening after stray flax seeds left her with painful scratches on her eye.

Australia’s Finance Minister, sporting an oval-shaped bandage over one eye, shared her ordeal from the backyard of her Canberra home on Saturday.

Gallagher said the injury “looks worse than it is” and that it was “annoying.”

“I’m not sure I can do this without laughing looking at myself,” she said in the clip shared on her personal Instagram.

‘Just your friendly reminder that if you’re around linen, you’re probably wearing sunglasses.

‘I scratched my eye… again it looks worse than it is. Thanks to the traveling staff here in Canberra, in Australia they are called Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.’

Australians, including some of his colleagues in parliament, wished him a speedy recovery after the mishap.

Member for Perth Patrick Gorman wrote ‘Ouch! Get well soon’ while Canberra member Alicia Payne commented ‘Oh Katy! Take care’.

Katy Gallagher (pictured) sported an oval-shaped bandage on Saturday.

ABC News Breakfast presenter Michael Rowland also wished Senator Gallagher a speedy recovery from his injury.

Others praised the clinics, which Senator Gallagher praised during the short video, while some said more needed to be set up in remote communities.

“Urgent care clinics are amazing,” one person wrote.

“We need this in rural and semi-rural communities,” another person wrote.

The federal government announced in 2022 that it would introduce the clinics as a major overhaul of Australia’s health system.

The government pledged to spend $135 million during the previous election campaign to open 50 new clinics across the country.

The measure was taken to reduce the burden on hospital emergency departments.

The centers are open seven days a week and extended hours on weekends.

Ms Gallagher (pictured) encouraged urgent care clinics during the short video, which were announced by the federal government in 2022 to ease pressure on emergency departments.

Ms Gallagher (pictured) encouraged urgent care clinics during the short video, which were announced by the federal government in 2022 to ease pressure on emergency departments.

Patients do not need to schedule an appointment and medical services are billed in bulk, meaning there are no out-of-pocket costs.

There are 87 urgent care clinics operating across Australia, including 22 in New South Wales, 17 in Victoria, 16 in Queensland, 8 in Western Australia and 6 in South Australia.

There are eight clinics operating in the Northern Territory and five in the ACT and Tasmania since they were implemented in July 2023.

One million Australians have visited a clinic since it was announced.

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