Clinic in top health: PM

By Jade Lawton
PLANS for Berwick’s new GP super clinic have impressed Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
Mr Rudd visited Berwick on Friday to view the plans with Holt MP Anthony Byrne and La Trobe candidate, Laura Smyth.
The clinic, to be built next to Monash University on Clyde Road, will be home to GPs, nurses and specialist practitioners in one convenient location.
“The GP Super Clinic will have a strong focus on education and training for students and graduates from a range of disciplines in partnership with Monash University,” Mr Byrne explained.
“The innovative model will address the community’s increasing needs for community health care and training places. This state-of-the-art facility is an essential infrastructure project which will help Berwick become a Health and Education Hub for the rapidly growing area.”
Work on the clinic began this month and the building is expected to be up and running by April next year.
Mr Rudd viewed a slideshow of plans for the clinic and heaped praise on the building’s design.
“These are springing up around the country and this is one of the most attractive,” he said. “I imagine there are all sorts of pressures on accident and emergency at Casey, like other clinics around the country. This will be somewhere for kids to go when they get crook, and they (will) get proper and integrated care,” he said.
Chairman of the Berwick Casey Superclinic consortium, Graeme Downe, said he was pleased to welcome Mr Rudd to the clinic.
“We have insisted on building plans with the contingency to expand further, including a second floor to the building as we remain very positive about the future development of this venture,” he said.
Mr Rudd also talked up the candidate for La Trobe. “Laura is a first-class candidate. She knows the area well and I’ve had several meetings with her. You will see a lot more of her, myself and the Deputy Prime Minister in La Trobe,” he said.