Grants boost general practice in Hervey Bay and Bargara
Patients in Hervey Bay and Bargara will soon feel the benefits of improved facilities at the Main Street Medical Centre and Grace Family Practice after they were selected for a Federal Government grant.
Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt today welcomed the announcement that the practices would receive grant funding of over $400,000.
The practices are amongst 67 that were offered grants across the nation, with a total of $13.1 million under the Governmentâs Rural General Practice Grants program.
“This grant will enable the Main Street Medical Centre and Grace Family Practice to expand and improve their facilities and equipment,” Mr Pitt said.
“Better facilities will allow more doctors, nurses and other health workers to get hands-on training in general practices in rural and remote areas Hervey Bay and Bargara.
“They will be able to attend to patients and also, when they are fully qualified, are more likely to decide to stay or practice in another rural community.”
Main Street Medical Centre will create a larger treatment room, two procedure/urgent care cubicles and add a registrar consultation room and improve the nurse CDM consult room.
The Grace Family Practiceâs new facility will have eight consulting rooms, a two-bed operating suite, two treatment rooms and a fully equipped training room.
Assistant Minister for Health, David Gillespie, said practices would match the amount of their grants to undertake their projects.
Dr Gillespie said the projects could range from building new rooms to renovating existing rooms and buying computing technology or medical equipment.
“As well as medical graduates, they may be used for training overseas trained doctors, nurses, Aboriginal health workers or other health professionals employed in the practice,” Dr Gillespie said.
“Other grants will be used to create meeting rooms where patients can receive education about health conditions, such as diabetes, so they can take a more active role in managing their own health.
“The Government supports a strong primary care workforce that can meet Australiaâs future healthcare needs.
“Improving access to doctors and other health professionals in rural and regional Australia is a priority for our long term national health plan.”