July 8, 2011
Work is progressing on a multi-million dollar medical centre to meet increased demand for medical services in Morwell.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester this week had the opportunity to discuss the project with The Healthcare Centre Practice Manager Julie Sullivan.
The project was recently given a small boost via a Federal Government grant of $24,000 to fit-out two student rooms and equip a training room with multimedia equipment. Mr Chester said the new medical centre would improve the availability of medical services for the local community and help to attract more health practitioners to the Latrobe Valley.
“The new Healthcare Centre will be an outstanding facility and an important addition to current medical services in Morwell,” Mr Chester said.
“It will help to meet with an increasing demand from the community for GP services and also house a pharmacy and other allied health services including psychology and pathology services.
“Importantly the provision of student training opportunities at the clinic will encourage more young medical trainees to enjoy the experience of practising in the Latrobe Valley.
“With the increased number of young medical students currently in training we have to do everything in our power to make sure that at least a reasonable number choose regional practice.”
Mr Chester said the Gillard Government must also put a greater focus on supporting and working with existing medical services.
“The construction of the new clinic will be almost all self-funded which is a testament to the management team involved in the project,” Mr Chester said.
“Unfortunately the Gillard Government has been wasting taxpayers’ money on so-called ‘super clinics’ which, in some cases, have been built without any doctors working in them.
“The government would be better off working in partnership with services like the Healthcare Centre to develop projects that will provide significant health outcomes and help to attract young health professionals in the future.”