Media Statement - 9th November 2007
Federal Labor will invest $12.5 million in a GP Super Clinic in the city of Onkaparinga in the South of Adelaide to improve access to local health services.
The Southern suburbs have been chosen as an appropriate location because they suffer from severe doctor shortages – in some areas there are now 5,521 people for every GP compared to a national average of approximately 1400 people for every GP.
Federal Labor’s GP Super Clinic will be a new, purpose built facility, and help attract doctors and health professionals to the area.
GP Super Clinics will be particularly attractive to young graduates keen to work in a multi-disciplinary team environment.
The decision to build a GP Super Clinic in the Southern suburbs has been taken in consultation with the South Australian Government. Federal Labor will work in partnership with the State Government to provide a better range of frontline health services for local families, and to take pressure off the Noarlunga Hospital.
Federal Labor will ask the State Government to match this funding in order to provide a more extensive range of health services at the one site.
Federal Labor’s GP Super Clinics policy complements the South Australian Government’s existing GP Plus strategy – both are designed to take pressure off public hospitals and provide better frontline care to local families.
Labor Candidate for Kingston, Amanda Rishworth said:
As a psychologist, I recognise the potential benefits of local doctors and other health professionals working together to provide comprehensive services to the people of the Southern suburbs.”
Once completed, the GP Super Clinic is expected to include a range of health care services such as:
- privately practising GPs, including after hours services;
- allied health services including physiotherapy, podiatry, and dieticians;
- mental health services including psychology and counselling;
- chronic disease management services.
State-funded services will be negotiated with the SA Government.
By co-locating specialist services and allied health services with GPs, the GP Super Clinic will:
- make it easier for GPs to link their patients to enhanced services – including allied health;
- provide coordinated care for people with chronic and complex conditions;
- provide space to conduct health promoting activities for the local community; and
- increase teaching, training and education opportunities for health professionals.
Federal Labor will work in close consultation with local doctors and health professionals and the South Australian Government to finalise the precise suite of services to be located at the GP Super Clinic.
Federal Labor’s GP Super Clinics policy will benefit families and improve health services by:
- helping to take pressure off the Noarlunga Hospital; and
- working co-operatively with the SA Government to enhance State and Commonwealth health spending, reducing current blame shifting and cost shifting.
Federal Labor Leader, Kevin Rudd said:
“We are determined to ensure families living in the Southern suburbs have access to good health care when they need it most.”
Shadow Health Minister, Nicola Roxon said:
“The GP Super is an investment in Adelaide’s southern suburbs and forms an important part of Labor’s $2.5 billion Health and Hospitals Reform Plan. It will help attract young graduates to work in the region and provide better frontline services to families and communities.”
Federal Labor has already announced $10 million in funding for the Flinders Medical Centre to expand and upgrade its health and medical teaching and training facilities.