New health services are just around the corner for the Redcliffe community as the construction of the new, purpose-built Redcliffe GP Super Clinic continues ahead of schedule.
The Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon today visited the Redcliff site to inspect progress, with construction on the third storey of the five-storey now underway.
When operational next year, the clinic will make it easier for Redcliffe locals to see and contact a doctor when they need to, a key commitment of the Gillard Labor Government's health reform agenda.
The clinic will bring together GPs, practice nurses, specialists and allied health professionals including a dietician, diabetes educator, physiotherapist, pharmacist, dentist and psychologist.
It will provide preventive and chronic disease management services addressing local health needs including diabetes, respiratory and heart diseases and mental health issues.
The Australian Government committed $5 million in funding in 2007 to the Redcliffe project.
A further $5 million was promised in the 2010 election to provide outreach services for aged care and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and specialist chronic disease clinics.
The government has provided $275 million over five years from 2007 to establish 36 GP Super Clinics around the nation.
8 of these are now open, including 2 in Queensland at Strathpine and Ipswich.
Construction has started at 16 sites, while services are being delivered prior to or during the construction at a further 8 sites nationwide.
In 2010, the Government committed an additional $370.2 million for a further 28 GP Super Clinics and upgrades to around 425 general practices, primary care and community health services, and Aboriginal Medical Services.