Minister Barr: Two new bulk-billed health clinics for Belconnen
- Written by ACT Government
Released 04/12/2015
The Belconnen community will have access to more bulk-billed doctors with two new clinics to open early next year.
Today I joined Adrian Watts, the managing director of the National Health Co-op, and Peter Carlin, the chief executive of SERVICE ONE, to announce the new suburban community health clinics to be opened in Macquarie and Higgins.
The two new clinics will see an additional 10 general practitioners, two practice nurses and four allied health professionals in Belconnen, and will provide even better access to affordable essential health services.
It is fantastic the National Health Co-op will open these two new bulk-billed clinics following the recent opening of clinics in Wanniassa and Chisholm – all of which the National Health Co-op were able to open thanks to the support of SERVICE ONE.
It is so important that the high level of care that our Canberra hospitals provide is supported by quality community health services so Canberrans can access the right care when they need it most.
The ACT Government supports a system where our excellent government health services are delivered alongside those of non-government organisations, and I congratulate the National Health Co-op on their strong success as they expand their clinical team and continue to increase access to bulk-billed healthcare in Canberra.
The new Macquarie and Higgins clinics bring the total number of National Health Co-op sites in Canberra to eight. With over 80 medical and administrative staff employed across the city, and the provision of bulk-billed healthcare to more than 30,000 registered patients in the ACT, the National Health Co-op not only supports jobs in our city, but also provides affordable medical and health services to the community.
Mr Watts said establishing two new clinics in Belconnen was a wonderful achievement for the Co-op that has been achieved with the generous support of SERVICE ONE.
“The National Health Co-op opened in Canberra in 2010, and since that time we have experienced phenomenal growth and support from the community,” Mr Watts said.
“We are looking forward to opening the Macquarie and Higgins clinics early next year, and we have plans for additional clinics across Canberra, in to NSW and nationally over the coming years. We are committed to working hard on the National Health Co-op’s expansion, with the aim of making a substantive positive impact on the health of all Australians.”
- Statement ends -
Section: Andrew Barr, MLA | Media Releases
