The number of Gerringong people visiting a Shellharbour medical practice and a need for more training practices for doctors in the Illawarra are among the reasons behind a new medical centre proposal for Gerringong.
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Shellharbour’s Dr George Albert has lodged a development application following his proposal to build a new medical facility on the corner of Jupiter and Coal streets.
Dr Albert developed Shellharbour Medical Centre in College Avenue almost a decade ago after moving from Dubbo where he had a surgery. But the Shellharbour practice is operating near capacity and he has been looking to expand for several years. After careful consideration Dr Albert determined the best option was to provide Gerringong patients a medical centre close to home.
Dr Albert is clinical associate professor at University of Wollongong’s Graduate School of Medicine and said through his commitment to training students with it and at the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners he had observed a huge need for training and teaching positions in towns such as Gerringong. There is also a big demand for medical services.
“On our books in Shellharbour we have nearly 100 patients from Gerringong. At Shellharbour we have a 600sqm building but we have run out of room,” he said
Dr Albert said so many patients from Gerringong were making the trip to Shellharbour he thought why not open a second facility that will create more opportunities for training.
“This July we are going to have two registrars (from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners) trained in our Shellharbour medical practice. We had two last term. One of our registrars used to be our student from the University of Wollongong. She finished and came back as a registrar and she would love to stay and work here,” he said.
If granted approval the Gerringong Medical Centre would be built within 12 months. It is modeled on the Shellharbour centre but will be smaller with four consulting rooms and pathology on the first level above a basement with onsite parking.
Above the medical centre on a second level will be accommodation that can also provide an opportunity for visiting registrars or specialists to be able to stay the night
Dr Albert said he hoped to open the new medical centre in early to mid 2018. “It will be the same model and have the same principles as Shellharbour because it has been very successful in providing an holistic approach to our patients’ health and providing teaching, education, training and research. We are very much involved in research with the University of Wollongong and University of NSW,” he said.