Patient milestone for primary care clinic

MORE than ten thousand patients have received medical treatment at the Ballarat Priority Primary Care Centre.

Run by UFS staff, the clinic opened last October, and commonly treats cuts, simple fractures, and illnesses like gastroenteritis.

Operations manager of the clinic Danielle Trezise said the facility has been catering to the community’s needs.

“We get reports from the primary health network that benchmark us against other PPCCs across the state, and Ballarat is the highest performing PPCC which is great for Ballarat,” she said.

“We see the most patients, which is a testament to people in Ballarat looking for an alternative to going to the emergency department.

“Emergency would still be busy, but they’re reporting that they’re seeing patients that are sicker, and more appropriate to be there, and those that are needing urgent care, but not necessarily an emergency department, are coming to us.”

Ms Trezise said BPPCC staff survey patients, and collected data reports about 50 per cent of them would have presented to one of the local hospital’s emergency departments if they didn’t have access to the clinic.

“We get lots of really positive feedback from the patients, and the number of kids we’re seeing is increasing,” she said.

About 12 doctors, 30 nurses, and a dozen reception workers are on staff, and Ms Trezise said the ongoing aim is to improve the service and its quality.

“It’s always an evolving project, so we’re looking to the future, and what UFS can do to maximise what we do for the community,” she said.

“We would like to thank the community for embracing this service, and our partners, like pharmacies, GPs, and the emergency department, that send people to us.”

Member for Ballarat, Catherine King, said the fact that more than 10,000 patients have walked through the clinic’s doors, within the first seven months, is a testament to the facility’s importance.

“Getting minor but urgent injuries out of emergency rooms and into facilities like this is a win for both patients and our hospital system,” she said.

“It means people can get the treatment they need quickly, while those with more serious needs can have easier access to hospital emergency rooms.

“A big thank you to the hardworking medical and administrative staff who have helped so many in our community get back on their feet.”

Another Priority Primary Care Clinic is set to be built in Ballarat’s western growth corridor, having been pledged by Labor ahead of the 2022 Federal election.