By Paul Hemsley

Construction beginning on the ACT-based Belconnen Enhanced Community Health Centre will emphasise on connecting and integrating all aspects of patient care and treatment.

Chief Minister and Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher said the $51.3 million facility will provide the Belconnen community with a contemporary healthcare hub.

“It will also offer enhanced services in physio therapy, nutrition, child health, sexual health, dental services, and community based services, in addition to existing alcohol and drug counselling, diabetes and mental health services,” Ms Gallagher said.

The ACT Government tendered for construction company Hindmarsh to build the centre.

An ACT Government spokeswoman for the Chief Minister said technology is seen as an important and key enabler to progressing innovation and redesign within the Health Directorate along with changes to the Model(s) of Care Delivery and Workforce Planning.

“The health centres will incorporate ICT infrastructure that will support and enhance the implementation of information systems that connect and integrate a consumers’ healthcare,” the spokeswoman said.

According to the spokeswoman, the ACT Health Directorate is currently in the early stages in implementing a community based services clinical information system that will be utilised by services operating within the Community Health Centres.

The government is also building another centre at Gungahlin and expanding and refurbishing an existing health centre at Tuggerong.

Planning for works at the Tuggeranong Community Health Centre is currently in the final stages and details are not yet confirmed, the spokeswoman said.

“The technology upgrades to the Tuggeranong centre will be consistent with those planned for all health centres.”

The project at Belconnen is scheduled to be complete in mid 2013.