Jason Wood (La Trobe, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak about a person who is incredibly important to the community of Emerald in my electorate of La Trobe. Dr George Somers took over the Emerald Medical Centre in 1981 after the sudden death of Dr Murphy, who previously ran the clinic as a sole practitioner. Since then, Dr Somers has built up the clinic with a view to providing a one-stop shop for health care to the residents of Emerald and its surrounds.

The Emerald medical clinic operates with eight GPs, four nurses and eight reception staff. They are all doing a fantastic job. As well, there are 10 allied health practitioners providing healthcare services that complement the regular GP services available at the same location. This means that residents can now access their services at the same location, meaning more seamless health care in general for those who need it most. Emerald Medical Centre is also focused on disaster planning and response. It has the capacity to treat 20 patients during times of emergency. We all know what it is like up in the Dandenong Ranges each summer with the concern of bushfires.

I am very excited that coming up soon is the grand re-opening of the Emerald medical hub, which seeks to put patients at the centre of health care, as they should be. Again, I congratulate Dr Somers for implementing his vision with passion. The grand re-opening is only a few weeks away. Well done, Dr Somers.