Good response for grants to upgrade GP clinics

General practice clinics in Gippsland have been quick to take advantage of government grants to improve facilities.
Gippsland Primary Health Network acting chief executive Angela Jacob said a number of practices had received grants from the federal government's Strengthening Medicare fund and more were expected to be approved in coming weeks.
She said examples of how the money had been utilised were construction of an isolation room at one clinic to ensure patients with potentially contagious medical conditions were kept separate from others.
Other grants had enabled air filters to be installed in two rooms while some clinics had used the money to upgrade computer systems and their software.
Ms Jacob said the government had committed $220 million for general practices and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to improve quality primary care services.
She said general practices was the cornerstone of the primary healthcare system and was the most accessed by consumers.
Ms Jacob said there had been positive feedback from the region's general practices about the differences the funding could make, especially with an ageing population.