A RIVERLAND medical clinic has broken ground on a brand-new facility it hopes will allow for better patient care and help attract and retain medical staff in the region.
Work has begun on the Berri Medical Clinic’s long-awaited new location on McGilton Road, with construction expected to take 10 to 11 months.
Clinic senior partner Dr George Dalamagas said the new building would be “really positive for the region in general” and help with the retention of doctors and nurses.
“The new premises will be more attractive for people to stay here long term,” he said.
“Retaining medical staff is a big issue for rural areas not only in South Australia but across the country, and anything that helps keep staff here is an advantage for patients.
“The worst thing is for patients to have to repeat themselves to a new doctor every six months and explaining what their history is – the ability for continuative care is very important.
“We have students every year who come and stay for the whole year, and every clinic in the region has them.
“A modern facility like this will hopefully attract younger students who are interested in rural medicine.
“We have two doctors who are born and bred in the region who have shown interest in returning, and they’re the kind of people who you want to return – people who have some sort of link with the area – because it makes things a bit easier.”
Clinical co-ordinator Helen Partridge said staff were looking forward for the future move to the new premises.
“It’s been something that we’ve been speaking about for a long time now,” she said.
“It’s still a little while away (and) the events of this year have delayed things, but all the staff are very excited to move to the new location and provide more modern services.”
Dr Dalamagas said patients, staff and even doctors had all been calling for a new facility.
“It will be a facility where patients can have access to allied health staff, including pathology, pharmacy and more, in the same building,” he said.
“We’ll also be next to the new nursing home that is being built now, so our doctors will have easy access and their nurses will have easier access to the clinic.
“It will provide a refreshed environment for patients to receive their care and for medical staff to practice every day, which is important.
“Overall, I think it is going to be a really good project for the region and for the community.”
Berri-based builders Michael Kregar Building and Medifit have been contracted for the construction and fitout respectively.