Mallacoota’s new $721,000 medical centre has opened its doors to patients for the first time this week.
Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester, visited the new medical centre in Maurice Street as work neared completion.
“I’m proud to have worked with the community to secure a $300,000 Federal Government grant to help fund the construction of the medical centre,” Mr Chester said.
“Mallacoota Inlet Aged Care and the Mallacoota Community Health Infrastructure and Resilience Fund should be recognised for their hard work in getting this project off the ground and the doors to the new medical centre open.
“Everyone involved should be proud of what they have achieved for their community with a lot of hard work and determination.”
The new centre has three consulting rooms, a treatment room, training room, office space and a room for a nurse practitioner.
It will also be fitted with video conferencing and other specialist equipment to help reduce the need for patients to travel to Orbost, Bairnsdale or Bega for treatment.
Mr Chester said the new medical centre would be an important addition to medical services provided in Mallacoota.
“Mallacoota is one of our most remote communities,” Mr Chester said.
“The centre will provide valuable space for doctors, nurses and other practitioners to see patients and improved facilities will help to encourage more health professionals into the area.”
The Federal Government funding for the new centre was secured through the $13.1 million Rural General Practice Grants program.