First Sod Turned on Gunnedah GP Super Clinic

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PDF printable version of First Sod Turned on Gunnedah GP Super Clinic (PDF 16 KB)

4 May 2011

The community of Gunnedah and surrounding regions will soon have improved coordinated healthcare with the official sod turning commencing construction work on the $4.3 million Gunnedah GP Super Clinic.

Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon visited the construction site today, turning the first sod with local member for New England, Tony Windsor MP.

Minister Roxon said the Gillard Government wants to make it easier for the people of Gunnedah to see and contact a doctor, closer to home.

“National health reform will continue to deliver for Gunnedah when this Clinic opens and starts to provide a new level of integrated, multidisciplinary, team-based, patient-centred healthcare all under one roof.

“This clinic will provide Gunnedah residents with better access to doctors and allied health professionals in one convenient location. It is expected that the clinic will be completed and operational by mid 2012.

“The clinic will house six general practitioners, including one GP Registrar, allied health professionals, three full-time practice nurses, optometry, diagnostic and pathology services and will provide integrated chronic disease management services,” she said.

“The clinic will have a role in training and educating the future health workforce as it will offer training places for medical, allied health and nursing students from the University of New England.

“Keeping Australians well and out of hospital is a central component to national health reform. That’s why we’re investing at record levels in primary care, including in GP Super Clinics like this one in Gunnedah, so Australians can see a health professional when they to, helping relieve pressure on local hospitals,” she said.

The Gunnedah clinic has received strong community support and is being built within the grounds of the Gunnedah Hospital.

It will be operated by Gunnedah Rural Health Ltd and constructed by Baxter O’Hara, providing local subcontractors and suppliers with work over the next 10 months.

“The Gillard Government is making a significant investment in the GP Super Clinics program and has committed $528 million to build 64 GP Super Clinics around Australia,” Ms Roxon said.

“We have also funded around 425 Primary Care Infrastructure Grants to upgrade and extend existing general practices, primary care and community health services, and Aboriginal Medical Services."

Thirty GP Super Clinics are either operational, providing early services or under construction.

For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 6277 7220