Information as at August 2014
Location of Super Clinic
89 Dora Street, Morisset
Contact details
(02) 4973 9700
Funding recipient
Waratah Medical Services Pty Ltd
Total Commonwealth funding
$2.5 million (GST exclusive)
Description of clinic
The facility is a refurbishment and significant extension of an existing property located in the main shopping precinct of Morisset. The clinic is well serviced by public transport, and is opposite the Morisset railway station.
The clinic opened on 15 December 2010.
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Services
Multidisciplinary care
The clinic offers a wide range of multidisciplinary, integrated primary care services provided by GPs, nurses and allied health professionals (hydrotherapy rehabilitation services, physiotherapy, psychology, counsellors, dietitians, podiatry), visiting medical specialists (cardiology, urology, general surgeon and gynecology).
Services include:
- Nurse led clinics
- woman's health clinics
- diabetic clinics and diabetic support groups
- immunisation clinics
- wound clinics
- skin clinics
- targeted services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Speech pathology patients are referred to the "sister" Kanwal practice, and once demand increases these services will be provided at the clinic.
The clinic also offers a range of chronic disease management and preventative care programs (GP Management Plans and Team Care Arrangements) addressing asthma, diabetes, osteoporosis, and other chronic illnesses.
A Hydrotherapy pool was identified as a pressing need at the 2008 Community Consultation, particularly for the elderly. No pool was available in Morisset and there were long waiting lists at Wyong Hospital and at Toronto. Elderly patients who have had hip, knee or shoulder replacements cannot exercise easily or well on the ground, and need to commence rehabilitation immediately after discharge from hospital. A hydrotherapy pool was made available as an 'early' service of the clinic.
The clinic provides for/includes pathology and an audiology services. It forms part of a larger medical complex which offers x-rays (CT scan, bone and mineral density). Top of page
Health needs and priorities
Morisset is located in the electorate of Charlton, which covers an area of approximately 578 sq km, which encompasses all of Lake Macquarie, extends south to Wyee, and includes Mandalong and Martinsville to the west and Sea Hampton, West Wallsend and Maryland in the north. According to the 2001 Census 13.7% of the population in Morisset were aged 65 years and over. However, the 2006 Census reveals that this has increased to 34.8%.
The clinic has responded to local community health needs by:
- recruiting additional male GPs and a much needed female GP to the Morisset area
- providing services appropriate for an ageing population such as:
- podiatry
- dietetics
- occupational therapy
- social work and psychology
- a much needed Hydrotherapy pool and rehabilitation services
An incontinence "In Control" Centre began services in early December 2011.
The clinic is making an application for approval to offer pharmacy services onsite and is working towards having a fully operational pharmacy in 2013.
The clinic has implemented the PBS Co-payment measure under the "Closing the Gap" program from mid 2012. This measure works towards closing the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians by improving access to PBS medicines for eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders living with, or at risk of, chronic disease. Assistance is available in the form of lower or nil patient co-payment for PBS medicines.
The clinic will continue to increase services offered in line with demand. Top of page
Quality
The clinic is accredited with AGPAL/GPA.
Operating hours
8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 3pm Saturday and Sunday.
Billing arrangements
Bulk billing is offered for all general practice services (including after hours services).
Home visits and visits to residential aged care facilities
GPs regularly visit local aged care facilities. The clinic has contracted a community nurse whose main role is to visit ageing patients in their homes and conduct Aged Health Care Assessments. The community nurse identifies services that would be applicable to ensure the health and well-being of the aged patients.
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Clinical training arrangements
The clinic is registered with "Valley to Coast" which co-ordinates medical student placements on behalf of the University of Newcastle and hosted medical students for 2011- 2012.
The clinic currently has one GP Registrar under the Extended Skills Program (commenced January 2012). This position has now been granted a further six month extension. During this period, the GP Registrar undertook his exams and has been granted his fellowship. He is remaining at the GP Super Clinic for an indefinite period as a VR GP.
The clinic is currently hosting two nurses completing their primary care placement.
The clinic has also previously provided placements for student nurses studying Chronic Disease Management.
The clinic anticipates and is committed to increasing the number of students to be offered placements in the future.
The practice nurses attend immunisation, asthma, diabetes and wound care workshops and programs initiated by GP Access.
The group practice manager is currently undertaking a Diploma in Business Management BSB51107 through Origin Training to increase skills to ensure the sustainability of the business model. Top of page
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