The Bombala Street Surgery GRAND OPENING OF NEW EXTENSION
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Surgery expansion officially opened Member for Eden-Monaro, Mike Kelly on Friday opened extensions to the Bombala Street Medical Centre funded by the Federal Government through the National Rural and Remote Health Infrastructure Partnership (NRRHIP). The Bombala Street Medical Centre project was funded in April 2009 and was completed in June 2010. The expanded building now has six consulting rooms, waiting area, toilet and dedicated teaching room. “This project is a great addition to medical services in the Cooma area and will enable the Bombala Street Medical Centre to provide a greater range of services to the community.” “The Federal Government is committed to delivering better Primary Care in regional communities and we have making great progress in improving access in our region,” Dr Kelly said. First use of the new rooms began on June 1, with other health professionals relocating to the new rooms soon after. The practice has been able to attract a GP out of semiretirement to assist with education for junior doctors and a former ANU medical student back to Cooma as a GP vocational registrar. The new facility has also attracted a diagnostic
ultrasonographer to provide services three days a week. A shared antenatal program with a midwife working within the surgery has been instituted. Physiotherapy and podiatry services are also available from the expanded facility. As part of the 2008-09 Budget, the Australian Government established the NRRHIP which will direct $46 million over four years for the provision of essential health infrastructure (capital works and equipment) in rural and remote communities and strategic planning for small rural private hospitals. “We have been successful in winning funding for 10 projects Eden Monaro, totalling $3,015,804.I would encourage other local Medical Centre’s to apply for funding under this program,” Dr Kelly said. A fifth funding round under the NRRHIP was advertised on 10 July 2010 and will close on September 30. Expanded services Speaking at the opening on Friday night, Dr Andrew Egan said “Cooma Medical has spent around $850,000 to expand its facility and increase its capacity to recruit future GPs, retain existing GPs, train medical students and medical registrars and improve primary health
care delivery to the Cooma community. “The project drew funding of $550000 from NRRHIP (National Rural & Remote Health Infrastructure Programme. “We were fortunate to receive full grant funding and are gratefull to Les Sutcliffe for his help with our submission and Jo Risk from Southern GP Network. We recieved a strong level of support from Greater Southern Area Health Service, Cooma Monaro Shire Council and the ANU Medical School “Support fom local federal MP Mike Kelly was integral to the success of the application and we beleive Cooma has benefitted greatly from Dr Kelly’s tireless efforts for the local community. Architect David Epstein designed the extension which adds six consulting rooms, library/conference/education room, toilet and associated waiting areas to the current building. Construction by Paul Dyball commenced November 2009 and was completed on time and on budget using all local contractors “The building is a modern, lightweight, energy efficient, elevated shell providing minimal interference to traffic beneath and engineering and project supervision was
provided by Vaughan Lehmann. “We are happy to welcome Renee Dubois and Maree Nicholls from Cooma Physiotherapy, Nina Tillett from Snowy Mountains Ultrasound and Nerida Manning Podiatry to the facility “Dr Vic Carroll has returned to assist with teaching and doctor releif and we are currently training two medical students and two GPs within the practice. “Over time we believe the increase in space and capacity will provide: · Improved patient access · An increase in medical student, Prevocational General Practice Placement (PGPP) Registrars and GP Vocational Training Registrars placements · Facilities that meet RACGP recommendations for training facilities · A improved ability to recruit and retain GPs leading to a long-term increase in Rural GP numbers · Additional facilities for visiting medical specialists and co-location of allied health professionals · Room for comprehensive primary health care programs.”
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Pictured outside the Bombala Street surgery at the time the funding was announced in January 2009 are Drs Andrew Egan and Hamish Steiner with Member for Eden-Monaro, Mike Kelly.
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