51991.1566.01 Change to Existing Approval, Noosa Parade Medical Centre (TPC2404)

To Sunshine Coast Council


Re Noosa     Parade Medical Centre


Noosa   Parade Medical Centre established in 2008 is                   a    centrally
located      integrated     General Practice. Close to         public transport with
a   bus stop    no   more   than
                        fifty metres from the front door is the
closest medical centre to the Hastings Street tourist hub. The
facility was purpose built and designed in 1991, specifically to
house Noosa Heads after hour’s service. The building won several
design awards. The principle General Practitioner, Dr Andrew
Ladhams, is rurally trained with post-graduate qualifications in
emergency medicine, obstetrics, pain management, immunology,
infectious diseases, occupational medicine, medicolegal medicine and
paediatric. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of
General Practitioners. The surgery is a modern equipped facility
with airway management, defibrillator, minor operations suite,

operating microscope, fracture management, disabled access with
ramps and a disabled toilet and baby change table. The General
Practitioner works closely with Allied Health and currently has an
in-house physiotherapist, podiatrist, chiropractor, acupuncturist,
Chinese herbalist, naturopath, osteopath, Bowen therapist, massage

therapists, cranio-sacral therapist, Clinical nurses and midwife.
The clinic was awarded two separate grants with the Department of
Health and in 2010-2011; Namely the After-Hours grant and Super-
Clinic grant, these grants are on hold   pending extension. These
                                                      -




grants are substantial and were awarded on merit and will provide
service to the community. Noosa Parade Medical Centre is one of two
Bulk-Billing surgeries in the Noosa district. There are
approximately 17,000 patients registered at this clinic. The Noosa
Hospital emergency centre refers patients to this clinic when on
bypass. Although a solo general practice we has been actively
attempting to recruit additional General Practitioners, the biggest
criticism by prospective practitioners is the apparent lack of space
and ’odd’ configuration of current space. Extending the clinic will
assist with     recruitment and       allow   access      to the short-listed        grants
and   ease   some    the
                  congestion           in the
                                    waiting                  room   with     shortened
waiting times. I understand the issue of apparent loss of on-site
parking has been addressed.




                       Development Counter
                                                                DR A       LADHAMS

                                   3 APR 2012
                                   :
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                                                     L.




                                   Tewan in