Media release
From the Minister for Health – John Thwaites
Friday 15 December 2000
NEW INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE CENTRE FOR FRANKSTON
Frankston residents will have access to improved dental and community health services such as physiotherapy, podiatry and speech pathology with the opening of a new healthcare centre, the Health Minister, John Thwaites said today.
Officially opening the new $10.5 million Frankston Healthcare Centre, Mr Thwaites said the centre would provide a convenient ‘one-stop shop’ for clients of community health and dental services.
“The new Frankston Healthcare Centre is an integrated care centre that brings together dental and community health services previously provided from a number of different sites in Frankston,” he said.
“Located in Hastings Street, adjacent to Frankston Hospital, the modern two-storey building will accommodate services provided by Frankston Hospital, Frankston Community Health Services and the Mornington Peninsula Division of General Practice.
“Services provided include physiotherapy, speech pathology, counselling, community nursing, renal dialysis, drug and alcohol services, gambling programs, youth services, dental services, chemotherapy and an outpatients clinic.
“The new centre will also provide a base for the popular Hospital to Home program which gives patients the choice of receiving part, or all, of their hospital care in the comfort of their own home.”
Mr Thwaites said a key part of the new centre was the establishment of a nine chair dental clinic and dental team.
“The new dental clinic comprises four chairs for school dental services, four public chairs for adults and their families and one chair for gerodontics – an initiative to support older people with chronic and complex needs.
“A full team of dentists, dental therapists, dental assistants, reception and administrative staff will be working at the clinic.
“The new facility enables the School Dental Service and the Community Dental Program to be co-located on the one site which provides easy access to services and promotes a family approach to oral health care.
“The School Dental Service will provide care to 64 schools in the Frankston area and more than 20,000 primary and secondary students over the next two years.”
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Mr Thwaites said the new Frankston Healthcare Centre would provide a central point for people needing to access both the specialist health system and local community support services.
“This integrated health centre will be able to link people in with both specialist health services and community health programs,” he said.
“By improving access to specialist and community health services we can reduce the need for hospitalisation by quickly responding to the early signs of disease and provide better coordinating care for people with complex or chronic problems.”
Media contact: Sandra McKay 9651 5799/0408 120 068/