Work under way on $5 million Grafton GP Super Clinic

Clarence Valley residents will soon be able to visit doctors, nurses and a range of allied health professionals in the one convenient location after Page MP Janelle Saffin today turned the first sod for the Grafton GP Super Clinic.

Ms Saffin said she was delighted that one of her major election commitments from the 2007 election – Ochre Health Group’s $5 million GP Super Clinic on the corner of Clarence and Fitzroy streets – was under way.

“The Grafton GP Super Clinic will house general practitioners and allied health professionals, plus offer integrated chronic disease management services and provide training and education for future health professionals,” Ms Saffin said.

“Preventative services will also be available from the clinic to address conditions including obesity, respiratory disease, circulatory disease, mental health conditions and musculoskeletal disease. Pharmacy and pathology services will also be available.”

Ms Saffin paid tribute to local GPs and practice managers, and civic leaders, for participating in earlier public consultations she organised to ensure that the clinic would be best-practice and designed to meet health needs in the local community.

Ochre Health has chosen National Buildplan Group Pty Ltd as its main contractor, and the project is expected to provide work for local sub-contractors and suppliers.  

Ms Saffin said GP Super Clinics were a key part of the Australian Government’s health reforms.

“We are putting new primary health care facilities in local communities where people need them most, particularly where it’s difficult to see a doctor or where there is high population growth,” Ms Saffin said.

“They provide integrated, multidisciplinary, team-based, patient-centered health services, usually in a single location, bringing together GPs, nurses, visiting medical specialists, allied health professionals and other health care providers and services.”

In 2010-11, the Australian Government committed $370.2 million over three years for an additional 28 GP Super Clinics, including a $7 million one in Lismore, and around 425 Primary Care Infrastructure Grants to upgrade and extend existing general practices, primary care and community health services, and Aboriginal Medical Services.

This builds on the Government’s initial investment of $280.2 million for 36 GP Super Clinics across Australia. With the inclusion of Grafton, 30 GP Super Clinics are either operational, providing early services or under construction.

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