GG 37/12
30 May 2012
| The Hon Gary Gray AO MP Special Minister of State |
The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP Minister for Health |
Residents of the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia will have better access to GPs and allied health professionals with the signing of an agreement to establish the Wheatbelt GP Super Clinic in Northam.
Minister for Health, Tanya Plibersek, and Special Minister of State, Gary Gray, today welcomed the signing of the $3 million agreement with the Central Wheatbelt Division of General Practice, which will boost health care in the Wheatbelt region.
“Northam has enormous growth potential and it is a good time to be a part of this vibrant regional town in the great Western Australian wheatbelt,” Minister Plibersek said.
“The Wheatbelt GP Super Clinic will provide increased primary healthcare services for the local community,” she said.
“It will be integrated with the proposed Northam Health Precinct and be located close to the regional hospital.”
The Wheatbelt GP Super Clinic will also provide a modern learning and training environment for medical students and registrars, allowing them to gain regional health care experience.
“Training the next generation of health professionals in the GP Super Clinic environment lays the groundwork for better health care and greater convenience for patients in Northam,” Ms Plibersek said.
“The clinic will also act as a hub for the wider Central Wheatbelt, which means that various practices across the region will be able to draw on health professionals to provide visiting services.”
Special Minister of State, Gary Gray, said that he would like to acknowledge the assistance of the WA State Government which had made land available for the construction of the $3 million Wheatbelt GP Super Clinic in Northam which is funded by the Federal Government.
“I would also like to pay tribute to the Nationals’ Max Trenorden MLC, who has put an enormous amount of effort into engaging with the Federal Government in regard to the Wheatbelt GP Superclinic. Through his dedicated, tireless and hard work over a number of years, Max has ensured a fantastic result for the people of Northam and the wider Wheatbelt,” he said.
The Australian Government is making a significant investment in GP Super Clinics and has committed $650.4 million to build more than 60 GP Super Clinics around Australia and upgrade and extend around 425 existing general practices, primary care and community health services, and Aboriginal Medical Services.
There are now 38 clinics either open, providing early services or under construction.
| Media Contact: | Website: |
|---|---|
| John Arthur - 0408 991 261 | www.smos.gov.au |
| Tanya Plibersek - 02 6277 7220 |