Patients in Nuriootpa will soon feel the benefits of improved facilities at the Nuriootpa Medical Centre after they were successful in applying for funding under the Federal Government’s Rural General Practice Grants program.Member for Barker, Tony Pasin today welcomed the announcement that the surgery would receive over $242,798 in grant funding.

“This grant will assist the Nuriootpa Medical Centre to expand and improve its facilities,” Mr Pasin said.

The proposal is to provide the Medical Centre with 3 extra consulting rooms and enclose the side veranda to give patients a larger waiting area. In addition the practice will build a study and teaching room to accommodate students who undertake placements at the practice.  Each of the new consulting rooms and student area will be fitted out with medical and technology equipment.

“Better facilities will allow more doctors, nurses and other health workers to get hands-on training in general practices in regional areas like Nuriootpa. Hopefully it will also encourage more trained staff and doctors to come and work and live here permanently,” said Mr Pasin.

The Nuriootpa Medical Centre is amongst 67 that were offered grants across the nation, with a total of $13.1 million under the Government’s Rural General Practice Grants program.

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 Australia’s 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.”

 

Contact: Charlotte Edmunds 8531 2466