Our future medical needs.

Last night's Federal budget delivered on a pre-election promise to fund a doctor's clinic to address Shellharbour's lack of medical facilities.

$ 2.5 million will be spent to provide a new medical centre staffed by six doctors and supported by physiotherapy, chronic disease management and care services. This new medical centre will be one of thirty-one super clinics established across Australia at a cost of $ 275.2 million.

The proposal makes a lot of sense. Public hospitals are reeling from over use of their emergency departments. Many of the problems patients are experiencing can be sheeted home to the fact that too many patients are trying to access too few facilities. The triage system treats those with the most severe injuries first - and consequently those with minor problems face a very long wait.

Emergency departments are misused. The overwhelming number of people presenting do not constitute an emergency. Their needs range from a wish to have a prescription renewed - to advice on a sore throat - to minor problems such as a sprained ankle. The big attraction of going to an emergency department is that the treatment is free.

Hopefully the super clinic at Shellharbour will take some of the strain. With six doctors on duty waiting time will be reduced - and with bulk billing the patient will not be required to pay a bill.

If the super clinic idea works then emergency departments will be able to deal with what they are designed for - patients who need immediate care because they have suffered a life threatening injury.

The wonder is that this solution took so long to be implemented !