Summary
- local access to health services can resume from April
- helipad at the old primary health care centre is clear for use
- health staff are still providing home visits to the Ayton community
A temporary modular clinic will be built at Yindili’mu Bayan Eco Lodge in Wujal Wujal this month so that local access to health services can resume from April.
Our General Manager South Mr Michael Catt like to thank the Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council for their strong support in helping us return health services to normal in the community as soon as possible and for their backing for the proposal to use the Yindili’mu Bayan Eco Lodge to deliver health care services.
The existing Wujal Wujal Primary Health Care Centre was severely damaged due to flooding following Cyclone Jasper in December last year.
Once in place, the new modular clinic will include four consultation rooms, two emergency beds, telehealth, and onsite medication.
All 16 staff will return to support the clinic including nurses, health workers, operational officers, and administration staff, plus visiting doctors.
There will also be onsite accommodation for clinical staff to provide 24/7 first response and primary health care.
The helipad at the old primary health care centre has been assessed and cleared for use, with just some fencing to be completed this month before the new clinic opens.
I’d also like to thank all our health service staff who have been involved in the ongoing Wujal Wujal recovery effort for their support in ensuring community residents continue to have access to vital health services.
They have been unwavering in their dedication and commitment to our flood-affected communities, including our Wujal Wujal-based staff who themselves lost homes and belongings during the flood.
The new modular facility will allow GP services, specialist clinics and outreach clinics to return to the community. They will also support community members needing referrals, patient trave and recall lists.
However, as the modular clinic will be smaller than the flood-damaged clinic, it will not provide medical imaging (X-rays) or dental services.
These services will be provided from Cooktown Multipurpose Health Service or Cooktown Community Health and return transport can be arranged for community members needing to access these services,
Deceased people will also be clinically and culturally transferred to Cooktown MPHS morgue as the new modular clinic will not have capacity for an on-site morgue.
The temporary modular clinic will remain in place while we consider options for the future of the existing flood-damaged primary health care centre.
We partnered with QBuild and the Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council to commission separate structural engineer and hydrology reports on the extent of damage to the old clinic and will review the recommendations from these reports when they become available.
Options to redevelop the health clinic include remaining on the existing site or building a new clinic at a different site.
If an alternative site is chosen, we will then proceed with development of a full business case to present to the State Government.
We are dedicated to providing the same high-quality levels of health care service to Wujal Wujal and the surrounding communities as prior to the flooding event.
Since the closure of the old primary health care centre following the flooding late last year, We have been in regular communication with the shire council and local residents about their needs and, in partnership with QAS, we are ensuring all emergencies and urgent care needs are being responded to by a paramedic stationed within Wujal Wujal township.
Any low acuity community residents needing to attend appointments or review at Cooktown Medical Centre have been having transport arranged for them to access their services.
In addition, displaced Wujal Wujal residents who are currently living in Cooktown are receiving ongoing healthcare through both the Cooktown Medical Centre and Community Health facility at the hospital. Those in Cairns are also able to access healthcare through Wuchopperan.
Our health staff are still providing home visits to the Ayton community.
We will continue to support the Wujal Wujal and surrounding communities and listen to residents as they work to rebuild after the recent flooding.
For ongoing updates visit our Torres and Cape Facebook page.