Study Needed into Meander Valley Council Plan

www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today called for the Bartlett government to fund a feasibility study immediately into the establishment of a newly integrated primary care centre in Westbury, as proposed by the Meander Valley Council, as the deadline looms for the closure of the privately-operated Westbury Medical Practice later this week.

Greens Member for Lyons, Tim Morris MP, said that there is a private investor in Westbury who is prepared to invest up to $500,000 into an integrated primary care centre if it included GP services, and it would be a serious blow to the community should the Bartlett government not investigate this opportunity.

“The closure of the Westbury Medical Practice has been yet another kick in the guts for the Westbury – Hagley community which is also without an Ambulance base, Nursing Home, Service Tasmania Centre, Visitor Centre or Enterprise Centre, or a High School,” Mr Morris said.

“What makes this really frustrating is that two years ago the Meander Valley Council, with the Department of Health and Human Services and the University of Tasmania, and the Department of Rural Health completed a health and well being map including a recommendation to implement innovative models of GP practice, bringing together other allied health professionals and community support services to provide an integrated approach under one roof.”

“However, since then, this work has been allowed to languish and collect dust on a shelf somewhere, and now the local community is facing the loss of its Medical Practice.”

“There is a local investor who is prepared to put up $500, 000 towards a health care centre on the basis it includes GP services, and we think the Bartlett government should jump at the chance of investigating appropriate options to ensure that offer of assistance is taken up.”

“A feasibility study is needed into the establishment of a newly integrated primary care centre in Westbury, as proposed by Meander Valley Council, to improve the long term health and wellbeing of residents across the Meander Valley.”

“The Greens are also calling on the government to consider a financial investment in such a facility in the context of plans for the refurbishment of the Westbury Health Care Centre,” Mr Morris said.
Tim Morris MP Greens Member for Lyons