Victoria’s first priority primary care center opens in Epping

Victoria’s first new priority primary care centre, PPCC, has opened in Epping.

The centers will give Victorians more healthcare options, as well as give GPs more support to deliver primary healthcare.

Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas visited the Epping center on Thursday – the first of 25 new state government centers set to open across the state in the coming months.

The centers will operate for long hours to suit busy families and will be equipped to handle conditions such as broken bones and burns.

Patients will be able to access services for free, whether or not they have a Medicare card.

Ms Thomas said the government was creating a new specialist post to strengthen the relationship between primary care and hospitals and bring more general medical knowledge into the Department of Health.

A new Chief General Practitioner will lead a program of work designed to better support general practice and improve connections between primary care and public hospitals by supporting state investment in general practice and primary care; help improve patient flow, including in care for the elderly and care for the disabled; working with a chief surgical advisor on patient pathways to surgery; support continued consultations between the Ministry of Health and the GP sector; and work with the Commonwealth to strengthen general practice and primary care, and advocate for continued Commonwealth investment

A process for the appointment of the first Chief General Practitioner will begin in the coming weeks in consultation with the sector, including the Australian Medical Association and the Royal College of General Practitioners.

The government has invested more than $128 million in primary care – including the creation of 28 state-run GP respiratory clinics and the Virtual Emergency Department, run by Northern Health, which provides telehealth care to thousands of patients to reduce the pressure on general practitioners and emergencies. departments.

“The opening of the first of our priority primary care centers is a huge boost for the system – reducing pressure on local GPs and emergency services and providing more options for patients in the suburbs. north,” Ms. Thomas said.

“The creation of the new role of Chief GP Adviser is a fantastic initiative which will result in increased support for GPs through increased support for regional doctors and better connections between hospitals and primary care.”