Mount Louisa Medical Centre officially reopens after dramatic transformation

Hoping to recruit more GPs, a Townsville medical centre has undergone a dramatic transformation to double its size, after taking over two residential blocks. See what’s changed.

Before and after comparisons of the expanded Mount Louisa Medical Centre with practice manager Colleen Belcher. Picture: Leighton Smith.

The Mount Louisa Medical Centre has undergone a dramatic expansion, taking over two residential blocks to meet increased patient demand, create more space, upgrade their service offering, and to help recruit more general practitioners.

Located in the Crestbrook Plaza on Bayswater Road, the cramped medical centre was ready to spread its wings after its co-owners, Eric Lollo and Peter Hayes, purchased a neighbouring house and land to extend the Crestbrook Plaza Centre eastwards to Cardiff Crt.

In development for five years, the expansion project had been awaiting rezoning of the area from residential to commercial, council approvals, and then engaging the services of local architects, engineers and builders to complete the project.

Construction commenced in March 2023, culminating with an official reopening celebration on September 20, while work continues next door on the United Chemists pharmacy (which also shifted across), freeing up additional commercial spaces in Crestbrook Plaza.

External view of the newly expanded Mount Louisa Medical Centre. Picture: Leighton Smith.

Mount Louisa Medical Centre Practice Manager Colleen Belcher was delighted by the changes saying their new location had doubled the floor space and consultation rooms, increasing the centre’s available services and providing a much more professional approach for patients.

“We’ve now got a large treatment room, a procedure room, nurse’s office, a lovely reception and waiting area, and somewhere that we can all sit at lunchtime, a staffroom, which we didn’t have before,” Mrs Belcher said.

Mount Louisa Medical Centre practice manager Colleen Belcher looks forward to recruiting more GPs for their expanded medical centre. Picture: Supplied.

“There’s been a lot of thought put into it, for comfort for the doctors because they’re sitting in those rooms eight hours a day, and also for patients, (who) have responded to that, going into a nice big treatment area where there’s two beds, whereas before it was just this poky little room.”

“(The feedback’s been) wonderful. We feel that we’ve got so much to offer (patients) now.”

She said the real aim behind the expansion was to create a spacious, modern setting which would help attract more GPs, boosting the centre’s number from six to nine.

Mount Louisa Medical Centre registered nurse Anita Fowler assists Dr Paula Heggarty with treating a patient. Picture: Supplied.

Mount Louisa Medical Centre registered nurse Anita Fowler is enjoying the extra space in the new medical centre. Picture: Supplied.

“There’s so many people that can’t get into medical centres, they clog up emergency departments and … if you could have more GP’s, you can offer that service,” she said.

“(Our GPs) treat from babies right through to the elderly, with one of our GPs visiting the nursing home just down the road from us,” she said.

Mount Louisa Medical Centre GP Dr Richa Dua consults with a patient. Picture: Supplied.

“It’s everyday medicine looking after families. Some of the doctors still do skin procedures, some skin checks, vaccinations … and we have (4Cyte) Pathology inside the medical centre – a new player in town.”

Mount Louisa Medical Centre Director Alok Anand said the centre was also dedicated to strengthening mental health services and offering crucial support for individuals affected by domestic violence, ensuring the wellbeing and safety of our community.

Interested GP’s should visit: mountlouisamedical.com.au

Originally published as Mount Louisa Medical Centre officially reopens after dramatic transformation