Patients in Broken Hill will soon feel the benefits of improved facilities with a $49,957 Federal Government grant for the Occupational Health and Therapy Rehab Solutions practice, according to the Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton.
The Broken Hill practice is among 67 across the nation that were offered grants, with a total of $13.1 million under the Government’s Rural General Practice Grants program.
“The grant will enable this facility to expand and improve their services,” Mr Coulton said.
“Better facilities will allow more doctors, nurses and other health workers to get hands-on training in general practices in rural and remote areas like Broken Hill.
“They will be able to attend to patients and also, when they are fully qualified, are more likely to decide to stay in Broken Hill or another rural community.”
The funding will allow the practice to include five additional consultation rooms, make the premises wheelchair accessible and purchase an ophthalmoscope with cobalt filter, a dermatoscope and a vaccine refrigerator.
Assistant Minister for Health, David Gillespie, said the practices receiving the Government assistance would match the amount of their grants to undertake their projects.
Dr Gillespie said the projects could range from building new rooms to renovating existing rooms and buying computing technology or medical equipment.
“As well as for medical graduates, they may be used for training overseas trained doctors, nurses, Aboriginal health workers or other health professionals employed in the practice,” Dr Gillespie said.
“Other grants will be used to create meeting rooms where patients can receive education about health conditions, such as diabetes, so they can take a more active role in managing their own health.
“The Government supports a strong primary care workforce that can meet Australia’s future healthcare needs. 
“Improving access to doctors and other health professionals in rural and regional Australia is a priority for our long term national health plan.”