ACT Chief Minister and Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher, today officially opened a new health care service at the Early Morning Centre in the city centre which will provide health care to some of Canberra’s most vulnerable residents.
“The Early Morning Centre is funded by the ACT Government and through the assistance of volunteer staff provides free breakfast, drop-in support services and office facilities each weekday to homeless, vulnerable and disadvantaged people,” the Chief Minister said.
“The ACT Government, through our support funding to general practise has provided additional funding to establish a new treatment space within the Early Morning Centre, professionally fitted out to provide a clinical space for weekly visits from a GP and Nurse Practitioner service.”
The Interchange General Practice and the National Health Cooperative, supported by the ACT Medicare Local will deliver the health care services every Wednesday morning over a two hour period.
“The Early Morning Centre is a safe place for those who need to grab breakfast and other support services and so it makes sense to provide health care services close to where people already feel comfortable attending,” the Chief Minister said.
“We know that many homeless and vulnerable people feel unable to access mainstream health services and it’s just great to see our local primary care services joining together to provide this crucial service.”
Initially the new service will operate for a 12 month trial period during which an evaluation of the service will be undertaken along with feedback from patients to see whether the service meets their needs.
“I would like to thank the ACT Medicare Local, the Interchange General Practise and the National Health Co-operative, for their support of this initiative and for their ongoing support and care of the Canberra community’s most vulnerable citizens,” the Chief Minister concluded.
(Katy Gallagher Media Release)
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