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Gillard Labor Government delivers integrated health centre for Rockingham Kwinana
Gary Gray,Mark Butler posted Monday, 9 August 2010
The Gillard Labor Government will provide funding for a new GP Super Clinic in Rockingham to improve health services for local families and take pressure off the local hospital. The funding was announced by Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Mark Butler, and Federal Labor Member for Brand, Gary Gray today. The new Rockingham Clinic will provide modern training settings for the future health workforce that the local community desperately needs. “The Rockingham Kwinana is a fast growing community, in need of medical infrastructure to help attract doctors and health professionals to the region,” Gary Gray said. “The GP Super Clinics program is a key part of the Gillard Labor Government’s plan to improve GP and other primary care services around the country, bringing together health professionals to provide coordinated primary care to keep people healthier and out of hospital.” Gary Gray said the decision to establish a GP Super Clinic in Rockingham highlighted the stark contrast between the Gillard Labor Government and the Coalition. “Mr Abbott has pledged to cut these Clinics,” Gary Gray said. “His health cuts will hurt front line health staff, families in Rockingham that will use the GP Super Clinic, and the workers, planners and engineers that will be employed to build this new facility. “Many Rockingham families are doing it tough and they need access to quality health services close to home. “This investment by Federal Labor will help to deliver improved health services for our community.” The Rockingham Kwinana Integrated Health Centre will be a “one stop shop” community health centre for local families - providing services supporting GPs with specialty nurse programs, allied health professionals, and some specialists. The GP Super Clinics program provides a quality setting to help train some of the 3,000 nurses and 1,300 GPs who will come online in the next three years as a result of Federal Labor’s investments to address Mr Abbott’s health workforce shortages.
The Gillard Labor Government’s commitment to support the Rockingham Kwinana Division of General Practice’s proposal for a comprehensive health care centre in Rockingham will provide this much needed investment in the area. “The Gillard Labor Government wants to invest in health services in growing communities like Rockingham and Kwinana,” said Mark Butler. “Tony Abbott would take us backwards on health. He has committed to scrapping funding for GP Super Clinics, which means people in Rockingham would miss out on the services this Clinic will provide. “Mr Abbott has said he will cut the GP Super Clinics program, cut Emergency Departments, cut after hours services, cut elective surgery improvements and cut local control. “Rockingham’s health system is too important to let Tony Abbott cut it apart.” The Gillard Labor Government will provide up to $7 million from the GP Super Clinics program for the establishment of the Rockingham GP Super Clinic. The funding for this project was provided for in the 2010â11 Budget. The Department of Health and Ageing will enter into direct negotiations with the Rockingham Kwinana Division of General Practice to sign a contract to build and manage the clinic.
Tags: Butler, Clinic, GP, Gray, Kwinana, Rockingham, Super, WA