Two new bulk-billing medical centres will open in Belconnen by early next year as a home-grown health co-op continues to extend its network.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The National Health Co-op – which started in Charnwood less than six years ago – was due to announce on Friday that it would open the new clinics in Macquarie and Higgins by early 2016.
It follows the recent opening of a medical centre in Wanniassa, bringing the total in the network to eight, with others already established in Charnwood, Belconnen, Evatt, Holt, and Chisholm.
When fully operational, the new clinics will add an additional 10 general practitioners, two practice nurses and four allied health professionals to the National Health Co‐op team.
Annual membership to the clinics is $100 and covers all dependents, giving members access to bulk-billed services,
The community-owned centres currently have 30,000 members and are expected to reach 50,000 members within 18 months.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr joined National Co-Op managing director Adrian Watts and Service One Alliance Bank chief executive officer Peter Carlin for the announcement on Friday.
The Service One bank is providing $1.5 million over four years to the National Health Co-op, which was formerly known as the West Belconnen Health Co-op, to help in the opening of four clinics – the ones at Belconnen, Wanniassa and a fourth to be announced soon at a location in NSW.
"We are thrilled to help support the continued expansion of the National Health Co-op's presence in the Canberra region," Mr Carlin said. "The National Health Co‐op embodies our commitment to continually invest in our community."
When fully operational, the new clinics will add an additional 10 general practitioners, two practice nurses and four allied health professionals to the National Health Co‐op's team
Mr Barr said he was pleased to announce the sites of the latest clinics.
"The benefits of bulk-billing doctors to the health of the community is well understood and I congratulate the National Health Co‐op for its continued work providing access to these important services," he said.
Mr Watts said the strong growth of the National Health Co‐op in Canberra was a testament to the community's support for the model and there were plans for more clinics in the national capital and elsewhere around Australia.
"The board and I are committed to working with like-minded organisations to continue the National Health Co‐op's expansion with the aim of making a substantive positive impact on the health of Australians," he said.
