DAYLESFORD'S proposed medical centre received a $550,000 Federal Government grant this week.Hepburn Health Services will build the $2.1 million medical centre in Hospital St.Work is expected to start next year.Hepburn Shire Council applied for the grant under the National Rural and Remote Health Infrastructure program.Hepburn Health Service acting chief executive officer Peter Barton said the facility would offer great benefits to the community with general practitioners located in the one facility."It will be a single point for people to go to access their services," Mr Barton said."It will be efficient for running their (doctor's) business and provide better structured services for the community."Council CEO Kaylene Conrick said the council was pleased to partner with Hepburn Health Service to assist with the development of the facility. "Council recognises that a medical centre, once completed, will improve health and access to medical services for the people of Daylesford and wider communities, while also increasing the range of available medical services and the number of general practitioners and allied health professionals in Daylesford," Ms Conrick said."This is very important for a rural area and alleviates the need for people to travel long distances to access services."The medical centre is expected to be completed in 2010.
Medical centre funding boost
