HEALTHY CASH INJECTION
STANHOPE and Kyabram Health are getting a major cash splash from the federal government.
The $1.4 million will build a clinical training hub in Kyabram and is being touted as the latest way to treat the national doctor shortage.
The hub will cater specifically to education for GPs, while also improving capacity for nursing, allied health and support staff development.
It will take an estimated 12 months to complete and be developed in conjunction with the planned redevelopment for the Kyabram Medical Clinic, which has received $300,000 in funding.
Nicole Ryan, chair of Kyabram District Health Board, said she was thrilled with the result.
“There are communities struggling to provide medical services and allied health and I’d like to think that we’ve listened to that and that we can try and prevent that happening in Kyabram,” she said.
Minister for Health Greg Hunt said the funding will help to facilitate the recruitment, growth and development of the medical workforce in the region.
“Providing greater training and support to our medical industry is crucial in building a world-class health system,” Mr Hunt said.
Stanhope is also getting a major boost, with the crumbling Stanhope Health Clinic, which is currently set in an old butcher shop, getting a $250,000 facelift.
About 30 community members were at the clinic for the announcement on Monday by federal Member for Murray Damian Drum, who said the Stanhope community were particularly vocal in their requests for the funding.
“It is fantastic to be able to provide the funding that will see this redevelopment come to fruition,” Mr Drum said.
Stanhope local Shirl Armstrong uses the clinic regularly and said the announcement “meant everything”.
“We are an ageing population and at the moment there is a whole third of the building that we just cannot use. We worry that we will lose the access to doctors that we have.
“With this announcement we can now hope that not only will we have secure services, but we might not have to go to Melbourne so much for treatment,” she said.
Kyabram District Health CEO Peter Abraham said community consultation will drive the project forward.
“The community has to be happy before we dig our first hole,” he said.
It’s unclear at this stage whether the existing building will be refurbished or if it will be relocated all together.