$15m for super clinic
THE first Sunshine Coast GP super clinic will open in February, 2014, taking an expected 13 months to build.
The $15 million clinic, in the new Sippy Downs Town Centre, will be built on a portion of the land originally earmarked for the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
The 2900sq m GP super clinic will focus the treatment of chronic diseases and include a large physical activity room, visiting specialist rooms and dedicated allied health space to target key conditions such as diabetes, respiratory disease, heart disease, mental health and obesity.
The site also will incorporate a pharmacy and pathology, with potential to house a dental service.
The facility will have a close connection with the University of the Sunshine Coast and provide for hands-on medical training.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson announced Ochre Health as the successful tenderer.
KHA Development Managers managing director Andrew Stevens, project manager on behalf of Ochre, said the clinic would be the catalyst for future development of the Sippy Downs Town Centre.
"At its capacity it will accommodate up to 12 GPs and 10 allied health providers across two dedicated floors," an Ochre Health spokesman said.
Australian Medical Association Sunshine Coast representative Mason Stevenson has maintained his opposition to a GP super clinic on the Coast, but welcomed Ochre Health's appointment.
"I believe they have the proven record in regard to the GP super clinic model and appear to have a Federal Government-backed multi-disciplinary primary health care model," he said.
Dr Stevenson said wide spread criticism of the super clinics continued from within the Australian general practice community because the "vast majority of GP super clinics to date have failed to attract a substantial number of GPs".
"The reality is that the Sunshine Coast continues to enjoy the highest GP ratio in Queensland and there is no prima facie evidence we need more GPs on the Sunshine Coast," he said.
Dr Stevenson said a change in Federal Government would see the end of the GP super clinic model.
