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Home > Ministers > The Hon Nicola Roxon MP - Minister for Health and Ageing > Media Hub > More Opportunity for Health Investments as Primary Health Care Reforms Being Delivered

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12 October 2011

The Gillard Government is improving access to frontline health services across the country in a snap shot of primary health care reforms released today by Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon.

Minister Roxon said the Government's reforms are delivering better access to after hours services, more integrated frontline care, and supporting new and upgraded frontline health infrastructure across Australia.

Health providers across rural and remote Australia are now being encouraged to submit applications to the next $9 million round of grants under the National Rural and Remote Health Infrastructure Program. Applications close on 15 December 2011. Already, through this program, over 100 projects have been completed and supporting improved health services across Australia. These grants have allowed GPs, allied health professionals and Indigenous health services to build or refurbish facilities, and purchase new equipment.

The Government is also continuing its close work with local communities to open GP Super Clinics across the country. Over the past 12 months, 12 more Clinics have become operational, four more have started offering early services and nine Clinics have started construction.

17 GP Super Clinics are now operational, as a part of 33 GP Super Clinics that are operational, providing early services or under construction. Already, more than half a million services have been delivered through the 17 operational Clinics.

Delivering more than 60 GP Super Clinics tailored to the needs of local communities is a complex process and careful work is involved to ensure they deliver the services needed by their local community. Further details on the roll out of GP Super Clinics are attached.

Already 189 general practices across the country have secured funding to upgrade facilities such as rooms for allied health care or teaching in general practice surgeries through the Gillard Government’s Primary Care Infrastructure Grants. Of these, 17 have completed their upgrades, 78 are under construction, and 94 are in the design and approval stage. A second round of grant applications is currently under consideration.

More than 41,000 calls have been handled on the GP After Hours advice line since it was launched on 1 July 2011. Around a third of all calls have involved the care of children aged up to 5 years, providing parents with advice and peace of mind when they need it.

Across Australia, 19 Medicare Locals have been established and are working to better connect frontline services in their local communities. From the beginning of 2012, these Medicare Locals will be supporting additional after hours GP services, tailored to meet the needs of their local communities.

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

GP Super Clinic Update

33 GP Super Clinics are operational, providing early services or under construction

17 GP Super Clinics are operational across Australia in:

• NSW: Port Stephens, Queanbeyan, Riverina, Shellharbour, Southern Lake Macquarie
• NT: Palmerston
• QLD: Strathpine, Brisbane Southside – Annerley Hub and Stage 1 of Logan Hub, Ipswich – Stage 1
• SA: Playford North
• TAS: Burnie, Clarence, Devonport
• VIC: Ballan, Berwick, Geelong, Cobram

16 GP Super Clinics are under construction or providing early services, including:

• NSW: Blue Mountains, Grafton, Gunnedah, North Central Coast
• QLD: Bundaberg, Cairns, Townsville
• SA: Modbury, Noarlunga
• VIC: Bendigo, Hume City, Portland, Wodonga
• WA: Midland

Construction is recommencing shortly at Redcliffe GP Super Clinic, after a delay when the operator was not provided permission to seek a loan by the Queensland Government.

Gladstone GP Super Clinic is providing early services and has received local council design approval for its long-term site. However, an appeal against the design approval has been lodged with the Queensland Planning and Environment Court. The Commonwealth hopes the Court will consider this matter quickly.

Update on remaining 31 sites

Upcoming sod turn

A sod turn and commencement of work for Cockburn GP Super Clinic is expected later in October 2011.

Funding agreements confirmed

12 GP Super Clinics have signed funding agreements and are confirming their site, in planning or seeking design approval:

• NSW: Broken Hill, Coffs Harbour, Jindabyne, Nowra, Port Macquarie, South Central Coast, Tweed Heads
• QLD: Mt Isa
• VIC: South Morang, Wallan, West Melbourne
• WA: Wanneroo

Although some planning amendments will still be required, the recent settlement on a revised site for the Wallan GP Super Clinic should facilitate the planning process.

For Wanneroo GP Super Clinic, the legal arrangements around the significant funding contributions from the WA Government and Edith Cowan University took some time to resolve, but will now support a major health and education project for the local community.

Funding agreements under negotiation

3 GP Super Clinics are in funding agreement negotiations with preferred applicants:

• Australian Capital Territory
• QLD: Gold Coast
• SA: Adelaide

Funding agreements under assessment

The Department of Health and Ageing is undertaking assessment processes on proposals for 8 GP Super Clinics:

• NSW: Blacktown, Lismore, Liverpool
• QLD: Caboolture, Mackay, Sunshine Coast, Townsville/Northern Beaches, Wynnum

GP Super Clinics with further work under way

In Emerald, following the outcome of a local consultation and representations from the Member for Flynn, the Government will seek a direct application to develop the Clinic from the local Division of General Practice.

In Northam, Rockingham and Mt Barker, the Government has provided expert assistance to the planned operators of the GP Super Clinics to help them strengthen their proposals to see if they can meet the requirements of the GP Super Clinic program and ensure that any GP Super Clinic that goes ahead is underpinned by a robust and sustainable operation. It will be essential for clear requirements to be met if these GP Super Clinic proposals are to go ahead.

In Karratha/West Pilbara, while a funding agreement has been signed and planning is underway, the WA Government’s associated redevelopment of the local hospital could result in the GP Super Clinic taking longer to complete. The Commonwealth will approach the WA Government to discuss whether GP Super Clinic services can be delivered sooner, while the hospital redevelopment takes place.

In Raymond Terrace/Lower Hunter, the Commonwealth is discussing with the NSW Government the potential for a joint approach to co-locate the proposed GP Super Clinic with the planned HealthOne clinic. This would enable a larger combined facility, but may involve a longer timeframe to complete the project.

GP Super Clinics in Darwin and Sorell

For the Darwin GP Super Clinic, the Department of Health and Ageing did not receive any applications through an open Invitation to Apply process. Given this and the fact that the local member, the Member for Solomon, has not indicated support for the project or wider program, the Government has decided not to go ahead with the project.

The proposed operator for the Sorell GP Super Clinic has advised the Commonwealth that it will not proceed with the project within $2.5 million funding available. Given this, the Government is working with the Member for Lyons, Dick Adams MP, and the local community to investigate other ways of improving frontline health facilities for Sorell and surrounding communities.