Grafton’s $5 Million GP Super Clinic Officially Opened
The new $5 million GP Super Clinic in Grafton was opened on 4 May, making it easier for residents to see a GP and giving better access to quality health care.
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Joint Release
The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP
Minister for Health
The Hon Janelle Saffin MP
Member for Page
4 May 2012Health Minister Tanya Plibersek today officially opened the new $5 million GP Super Clinic in Grafton.
Ms Plibersek said the Gillard Government wanted to make it easier for Grafton residents to see a GP and this new Super Clinic will give them access to quality health care, where they need it, when they need it.
“Since opening its doors, the Grafton GP Super Clinic has seen over 14,000 patients, and has been able to offer them an integrated team-based approach to quality health care,” said Ms Plibersek.
Ms Plibersek the new Super Clinic is focusing on high levels of Type 2 Diabetes, high cholesterol and asthma, which are of concern n the Clarence Valley.
“The Super Clinic will focus on developing a chronic disease management and prevention system through disease specific clinics, which will be overseen by a chronic disease case manager,” she said.
Member for Page Janelle Saffin said the Super Clinic included general practitioners, including a paediatric specialist, registered nurses, a diabetic education nurse, mental health care nurses.
“Other services include physiotherapists, an exercise physiologist, a podiatrist, sexual health counsellors, a dietician, a speech pathologist, an occupational therapist, and pathology services,” said Ms Saffin.
“Health Care is my number one priority for Page. It is vitally important the residents of the Clarence Valley have access to quality health care, which will meet the increasing demand for hospital services. This is about not only attracting additional doctor and nurses to our region, but also maintaining them.”
Ms Saffin said the GP Super Clinic was already being utilised as a clinical training facility for medical, nursing and allied health students.
“Since opening the Clinic in late 2011, there have been two medical student placements. In 2012, a further two medical students will be placed from the Wollongong University, and placements for allied health students from the pharmacy, physiotherapy and podiatry disciplines are also expected. From July 2012 it is expected that the clinic will be an accredited GP registrar training facility, which will help to attract more new doctors to the region.”
The Grafton GP Super Clinic operates Monday to Friday 8.30am to 7.30pm; Saturday 9.00am to 12.00 noon. Outside operating hours, calls are directed to the GP Super Clinic on-call general practitioner.
‘Drop in’ services, where existing and new patients can access a GP without a pre booked appointment, have been made available at the Clinic from Monday to Friday 10.00am to 4.00pm, subject to availability.
The Super Clinic has been established by Ochre Health Foundation Limited with the $5 million in funding from the Gillard Government.
The Gillard Government is making a significant investment in GP Super Clinics and has committed more than $650 million to build more than 60 GP Super Clinics around Australia and upgrade and extend around 425 existing general practices, primary care and community health services, and Aboriginal Medical Services.
There are now 36 clinics either open, providing early services or under construction.
For more information, contact the Minister’s Office on 02 6277 7220
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