ROSEWOOD General Practice, Walloon Medical Centre and Willowbank Medical Practice have received a combined total of $75,000 as part of the Strengthening Medicare General Practice Grants Program.
Each practice will receive $25,000. The GP Grant aims to support general practices to make investments in innovation, training, equipment, and minor capital works.
Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann said that he was delighted that GP Grant funding had been awarded to the three local medical centres.
“Helping them upgrade their practices and invest in their staff, is great news and I am proud to be part of a government that recognises the hard work of our doctors,” he said.
“After working tirelessly throughout the pandemic, doctors deserve more than thanks, that is why we are giving them the resources to invest in their practices.
“We understand the crucial importance of primary health care provided by GPs and this funding will help improve practices and make sure patients can access safe, quality and affordable healthcare when and where they need it.
“Getting access to health care is at the top of the list of concerns when I talk to locals in the Ipswich and West Moreton area.
“We know local GP practices play a vital role in small communities like Rosewood, so we want to do everything we can to support them.
“In the May Budget, the Albanese Government strengthened Medicare with the largest one-off increase to the bulk billing incentive ever.
“The bulk billing incentive will be tripled for the most common consultations with children under the age of 16, pensioners and other Commonwealth concession card holders.
“This is benefitting around 105,000 eligible patients at more than 50 GP practices that are bulk billing in Blair, which includes the Rosewood General Practice.
“Also, from September 1, the Government has been making a range of common medicines cheaper by allowing consumers to buy two month’s worth of medicine for the price of a single prescription, offering much-needed cost of living relief.
“The change will eventually apply to more than 300 Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicines for chronic conditions and is estimated to benefit more than 28,500 patients in Blair initially, saving people up to $180 a year.”
