A new, $1.6 million integrated health care facility on the Sutherland Hospital campus is expected to take pressure off the emergency department.
HealthOne, which will open within weeks, brings together general practitioners, community health and allied health care providers under the one roof.
Services will range from educating people considered to be at risk of illness, such as diabetes, to better managing others with chronic illness.
Health Minister Jillian Skinner unveiled the Coalition’s integrated health care policy at the facility, which is on Kareena Road, near the railway bridge.
“Integrated care is about bringing together all aspects of the health system, from acute hospitals, to GPs, allied health professionals including physiotherapists, dieticians and podiatrists and other community health providers, to ensure people receive the right care, in the right place and at the right time,’’ she said.
“Sutherland HealthOne is a perfect place to launch our policy.
“Integrating health care means patients receive the care best suited to them, from preventative measures to management of chronic illness.’’
Ms Skinner said HealthOne represented ‘‘the future of health care’’.
‘‘Some of our community health services that now operate from other locations will come together here, and other services will gradually be added.
‘‘We believe there is some interest from GPs.
‘‘They could come in and consult even one or two days a week.’’
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