January 12th, 2023Unclogging emergency: new centres scheduled to open
The state government has delivered ten Priority Primary Care Centres (PPCCs), with 15 more on the way – giving Victorians a free alternative to visiting a busy emergency department (ED).
Premier Daniel Andrews and Acting Minister for Health Colin Brooks earlier this month visited the opened Heidelberg PPCC to announce that another 12 are on track to open by early February.
Nine other PPCCs have opened recently in Ballarat, Dandenong, Epping, Frankston, Glen Waverley, Moonee Ponds, Narre Warren, Prahran and Sunshine, with the remaining centres to support:
- Albury Wodonga Health – Wodonga
- Box Hill Hospital
- Footscray Hospital
- Goulburn Valley Health – Shepparton
- Latrobe Regional Hospital
- Maroondah Hospital
- Mercy Werribee
- Northern Health – Craigieburn
- Royal Children’s Hospital
- St Vincent’s
- University Hospital Geelong
- West Gippsland Healthcare Group
Work is also underway to finalise the locations and timing of an additional three centres in Bendigo, Mildura and Sunbury.
Working in close partnership with local Primary Health Networks, the ten existing PPCCs have seen more than 6,000 patients – many of whom would otherwise have gone to an ED, despite needing lower-level care.
Premier Daniel Andrews: “Far too many Victorians can’t get in to see a GP at all, let alone one who bulk bills. It is a basic right that if you’re sick, you should be able get care at no cost – so we’re doing something about that.”
“Our primary care system is broken, and National Cabinet must make reforming the system its priority for 2023 – so every Australian has easy access to the affordable healthcare they deserve.”
