Seven Logan schools will soon have their own doctors in an attempt to make it easier for young people to access general practitioners.
Under the state initiative, a school doctor will be based one day each week at Marsden, Park Ridge, Loganlea, Shailer Park, Mabel Park, Beenleigh and Woodridge state high schools.
Students will be bulk-billed each time they use the service.
Mabel Park State High School was the first in the state to trial the project from 2019.
For Mabel Park principal Michael Hornby, it was a big deal signing the contract for the trial in June 2018, which got them a doctor one day per week. Since then, they have added to that as part of the funding with a triage nurse and one fulltime psychologist.
“We’re in a different world now and I think schools need to get on the front foot in regards to their students,” he said.
“You can have a student come in and if they’re struggling for whatever reason, you can help them and not be reliant on outside forces.
“Let’s say they do need a mental health plan, they do need a referral. They can get that there and then, so it’s taking barriers away.”
Dr Dana Newcomb has been Mabel Park’s practitioner since day one. She said it is aimed at students who have low access to doctors outside of school.
“I think this program is going to be incredible,” she said.
“This program is not really for young people who already have a GP, or whose families can easily get them to a GP, it really is supporting kids who can’t otherwise get care.
She said she can help students with medical concerns surrounding aspects like relationships, contraception, and asthma, among others.
“I essentially provide the same services as GPs anywhere, but I don’t have a treatment room and vaccination fridge, so I can’t do stitching, plastering,” she said.
All doctors are expected to be in place by May next year.
