Wilson Health Centre in Mitcham held its first Patient Participation Group on Thursday, drawing overwhelmingly positive feedback from the community.
The centre, which opened on March 31 this year, only expected to have around 200 registered members at this stage, but in fact has over 1900.
Clinical Manager Sonia Hall said the facility, dubbed the ‘Tardis’ by staff due to its deceptive size, will continue to grow.
“As this is a portable building we have the opportunity to add more rooms and in time offer more services,” she said.
Practice Manager Michele Izzo said that as the clinical team grows they can offer services such as blood tests in the centre, rather than having to send patients to the nearby hospital.
Patients who attended the meeting also said they would like to see physiotherapy and acupuncture offered in future.
They were impressed with the provision of existing services, in particular the fact that the centre is open seven days a week.
“It is a wonderful feeling, come Friday, not to not have to worry about getting ill over the weekend as you are open,” said patient Pam Grey.
“I am gobsmacked with the quality of care I have received.”
The centre is even open on Christmas day.
One area of criticism was the lack of public transport to the facility, with just one bus every half hour.
However, almost uniquely for a surgery, car parking at the Wilson is free.
The centre’s marketing director Paul Harvey said the patient-led meetings will be held on a regular basis.
“We hope to have a good representation of people and if you have any issues it is important that we address them,” he said.
