Labor’s GP Plus clinics in turmoil

21-March-2012

Labor’s GP Plus Super Clinic strategy is in shambles as doctors leave and refuse to support the flawed concept at both Modbury and Noarlunga.

“Health Minister John Hill’s admission today that doctors will walk out at Modbury has confirmed the failure of his GP Plus strategy in its current form,” Shadow Minister for Health Martin Hamilton-Smith said.

“The Minister’s ridiculous claim today that he is setting up a ‘new model’ at Modbury following the walkout by doctors is nothing more than a cover-up and spin.

“This follows news this week that only two doctors were servicing the 50-room Noarlunga GP Plus.

“The basic problem at Modbury and Noarlunga is that Minister Hill has created a vehicle which undermines and competes with the existing GP network.

“Many GP Plus clinics have been opened directly beside private GP clinics, duplicating services and failing to provide any additional services for residents.

"The Modbury GP Plus Super clinic, when opened in November 2010, took four months to host a single doctor. One year on and every single doctor in the establishment has now left disillusioned.

“Labor’s GP Plus Super Clinic has done nothing to increase the total number of GPs that are available to the public and doctors have long been opposed to this misdirection of funds.

“Private GP practices are the cornerstone of the health system and deserve the full support of government. Using taxpayer funds to open GP Plus clinics in competition creates chaos.

“This is a Labor Government that is more interested in throwing billions of dollars at bricks and mortar instead of investing in doctors and nurses.

“The $12 billion rail yards hospital and the $50 million spent at the Modbury and Noarlunga GP Plus Super Clinics has not provided a single additional doctor or nurse,” Mr Hamilton-Smith said.