Victorian government will fund care centre to aid hospital

Mildura will be one of the 25 sites to receive a primary priority care facility, under a new announcement from the government.

Mildura residents will get much needed access to primary care, after the government's recent pledge to build a primary priority care facility in the town.

The center — which will be staffed by both GPs and nurses — will be able to treat everything from minor infections to most fractures.

The space will also include pathology and medical imaging capabilities.

All Victorians with or without a Medicare card will be able to access the resources at the center, and it will take both appointments and walk ins.

More than $70m will be spent building the facilities with the hope they will address the overload at emergency wards in Victoria’s regional cities.

Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the centre would lighten the load on the emergency departments as well as help patients who needed no-critical care.

“Not only will this initiative free up beds in the ED for those with the most critical needs, but it will also fast track non-emergency patients so they can receive the treatment they need in a more comfortable setting,” she said.

There is currently no timeline on when Mildura’s facility will be available to the public.