More GP services for Mackay
Mike Brunker,Nicola Roxon
posted Tuesday, 10 August 2010
The Gillard Labor Government will build a new GP Super Clinic in Mackay to offer better health care for families in the area.
The Mackay GP Super Clinic will offer after hours GP services, provide training for future health professionals and help take the pressure off the Mackay Base Hospital.
Mackay is a growing community with young families, and has been identified as a District of Workforce Shortage.
GP Super Clinics are a key part of Federal Labor’s plan to improve access to coordinated health care services for the local community.
They also provide a quality setting to help train the 3,000 nurses and 1,300 GPs who will come on-line over the next three years, as a result of the Gillard Labor Government’s investments to address Mr Abbott’s health workforce shortages.
“Federal Labor wants to invest in the health services in growing communities like Mackay,” Nicola Roxon said.
“Tony Abbott would take us backwards on health. If elected, he has committed to scrap funding for GP Super Clinics, which means people in Mackay would miss out on the services this clinic will provide.
“He will also cut funding for Emergency Departments, elective surgery, after hours GP services, diabetes care and practice nurses.
“Tony Abbott does not have the judgment to realise how important these services are for local communities.”
Federal Labor Candidate for Dawson, Mike Brunker, said the funding would be warmly welcomed by his community, which is in need of more doctors and additional after hours GP services.
“Mackay needs better access to doctors and nurses. Training them in a rural regional setting means they are more likely to devote their working lives there,” Mike Brunker said.
“This GP Super Clinic will help Mackay families get in to see a doctor or nurse if they or their children fall ill.”
The Gillard Labor Government will provide up to $7 million for the establishment of the Mackay GP Super Clinic, as part of the funding for additional GP Super Clinics provided for in the 2010-11 Budget.
This comes on top of the recent investment by Federal Labor of $5 million for the construction in Mackay of a James Cook University Medical and Dental School teaching and administration facility and a 30 bed student housing complex.
A competitive process will be conducted by the Department of Health and Ageing to determine the successful operator of the Mackay GP Super Clinic.
Tags: Brunker, Dawson, GP, health, hospital, hospitals, Mackay, Roxon