General Practice After Hours grants of up to $100,000 over two years are available on a competitive basis to support after-hours services. The program has the support of local GPs. The grants can be used to help with costs such as on-call allowances, training and running costs.
A delighted Dr Marjorie Cross described the funding as a tremendous boost for primary health care in the area. "Our patients are our priority and we applied for the funding so we could increase services to people at a time that suits them.
"This is a commuter town and it's important we are available to see our patients outside of regular business hours," she said.
Dr Cross explained the funding will be used to extend the practice's existing after-hours services. "We will now have at least one GP, probably two, and a nurse on duty until 8pm on four nights of the week instead of three. Our Saturday morning service will also be expanded to two GPs, a nurse and our allied health professionals - psychologist, dietician and diabetes educator."
Dr Cross thanked Dr Kelly for his support of the funding application, also paying tribute to her practice manager, Margaret McArthur, and the Southern General Practice Network for their assistance in writing the funding submission.
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