Community & Business
26 May, 2021
Mareeba medical clinic enters new era
A NOT-for-profit board passionate about improving health care services for the Mareeba community has taken its first step in introducing change.
A NOT-for-profit board passionate about improving health care services for the Mareeba community has taken its first step in introducing change.
Concerns about the deterioration of health services were raised by locals in 2017, following the loss of $2 million in COAG funding for Mareeba Hospital.
A public meeting was held at the time and locals have since remained dedicated to the cause and rallying for improvements.
As a result a group of Mareeba residents have come together to form not-for-profit social enterprise, Mareeba and Communities Family Healthcare.
In their first step towards bettering local health care, the board has this month transitioned ownership of Mareeba Medical Clinic, located at 2 Lloyd Street, Mareeba.
Board chairman Ross Cardillo assured the community that the clinic would continue to run as normal, but with the aim of introducing more services to enhance the business as well as a health promotion foundation to progress overall health and wellbeing in the Mareeba community.
He said the board were now eager to help Mareeba Medical Clinic reach its full potential as a community owned primary health care service while engaging and giving back to the community.
“The Mareeba Medical Clinic is now owned by the community, for the community,” Mr Cardillo said.
“There has been great concern in the community not only for the hospital, but the access to GPs in Mareeba.
“From the Mareeba Hospital losing that vital funding four years ago came a lot of momentum to improve health care and GP services.
“We have identified that there is a need for more doctors in General Practice because of the length of time that patients have to wait to get an appointment to see a doctor”.
“As a result we all came together and over time we’ve created Mareeba and Communities Family Healthcare.”
Mr Cardillo thanked Dr Grant and Merril Manypeney for their support and congratulated them on their many years of service.
He said they would remain working at the Mareeba Medical Clinic, along with the other medical, nursing and administration staff.
Mr Cardillo said the purchase of Mareeba Medical Clinic would not have been possible without the support of the Primary Health Network (PHN) and the Mareeba Chamber of Commerce.
Others who also played key roles and dedicated many hours to the cause, include project manager Louise Livingstone from Freestone Associates, Mareeba Shire Councillor Mary Graham, Mareeba Chamber of Commerce chairman Joe Moro, Betty Dickenson and Nipper Brown.
