GP SUPER CLINIC FOR BLUE MOUNTAINS
5 November 2007

A Rudd Labor Government will invest $5 million to establish a new GP Super Clinic in the Blue Mountains , reducing pressure on the local hospital system.

The Blue Mountains GP Super Clinic will help attract doctors to the area.

It will also take pressure off the Nepean, Springwood and Katoomba Hospitals, particularly the emergency departments at Nepean and Katoomba.

Federal Labor's GP Super Clinics, by co-locating specialists and allied health services with GPs, will help patients to access the full range of medical services they need to improve their health.

The Blue Mountains was selected for a GP Super Clinic because it has a severe shortage of doctors and an ageing population that has high health care needs.

The GP Super Clinic will service local health needs by helping to attract more doctors to the area and providing training facilities for young graduates to work in the Mountains.

Blue Mountains Division of General Practice was consulted by Federal Labor about the form of the Blue Mountains GP Super Clinic.

Federal Labor broadly endorses the Division's proposal for several clinics in different locations to link privately practising GP services with a range of allied health services such as physiotherapy, mental health nurses, dieticians and podiatry. Consulting and training rooms would be built at each existing GP clinic.

This investment of $5 million represents Federal Labor's down payment towards establishing this service in the Blue Mountains.

If elected, Federal Labor will work in partnership with the New South Wales Government, the Blue Mountains Division of GPs, local government and the local community to finalise the services to be delivered at the Blue Mountains GP Super Clinic.

Federal Labor will work closely with local doctors and health professionals to ensure that the new Blue Mountains GP Super Clinic complements and enhances existing health services.

Federal Labor Deputy Leader, Julia Gillard said:

" I'm delighted to be able to announce that Labor will provide funding for a GP Super Clinic here in the Blue Mountains. A GP Super Clinic in this area will help take pressure off local hospitals and will provide a greater range of services in one place."

Shadow Health Minister, Nicola Roxon said:

" The GP Super Clinic in the Blue Mountains is part of Labor's
$2.5 billion Health and Hospitals Reform Plan to improve health and hospital services and deliver better health outcomes to local communities around Australia."

Labor Candidate for Macquarie Bob Debus said:

" A GP Super Clinic here in the Blue Mountains will provide a great boost to the health system in this area. I am proud to be part of a Labor team which is so committed to meeting the health needs of the Blue Mountains."

The chair of the Blue Mountains Division of GPs, Dr Michael de Vries, said:

" The Division supports this much needed investment in infrastructure for general practice to provide quality services in the local community and opportunities for local training of medical students and future GPs."