Healthy Check up for Uni-Clinic

Tuesday 1 March 2005

Four months after opening, the University of Newcastle's Health Clinic is proving a success with the Cessnock community.

The first of its type in New South Wales, the Uni-Clinic is providing increased access to health services. An increase in the number of GPs has seen the clinic double its number of patients from the time of opening in October last year.

Faculty of Health Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor John Marley says that he is thrilled with the success of the clinic which in addition to the GPs, also has a Practice Nurse, a Dietician and a Women's Health Nurse.

"This is a new model of primary health care service delivery, which is helping to meet the great demand for health services in the Cessnock area," says Professor Marley.

The clinic is run by GPs as team leaders, with nurses and allied health professionals providing targeted health services.

"It means that the GP can concentrate on patients where their specialist skills are needed while nurses and allied health professionals work with patients in their own areas of expertise, such as Women's Health nurses providing pap smears and dietitians managing people with type 2 diabetes. The GP is always on hand if additional support is required," says Professor Marley.

"This model is the way of the future and has already proven to be highly effective in Britain, Holland and Canada."

In 2005, the plan is to prove and promote the Uni-Clinic model of care as a means of sustainable primary health care delivery.

Dr Chris Matthews, Consultant GP Team Leader at the clinic, says this may involve expanding the capacity of Cessnock Uni-Clinic to deliver greater volume and scope of primary health care services to the Cessnock community as well as providing an environment for University of Newcastle research projects and student clinical placements.

The Cessnock Uni-Clinic is located at 19 Foster St, Cessnock NSW. People interested in attending the clinic should phone (02) 4990 9154.

For interviews: Professor John Marley on (02) 4921 6378.