A $2 million state-of-the-art podiatry clinic was officially opened today, significantly boosting services for the Central Coast community.
The University of Newcastle and Central Coast Local Health District Podiatry Clinic at Wyong Hospital will operate five days a week and provide care for public and private patients. The 18 chair clinic hosts surgical facilities that include a pre-operation room, surgery scrub area and operating theatre.
University of Newcastle Vice-Chancellor Professor Nick Saunders said the new facility gave podiatry students hands-on experience using the latest technology available.
“In partnership with the Central Coast Local Health District, this state-of-the-art facility will allow our students to learn in a supervised environment and provide the Central Coast community with a valuable service.”
Central Coast Local Health District Chief Executive Matt Hanrahan said that the new facility would enable podiatry students to view high-risk foot procedures in the hospital environment.
“Central Coast Local Health District podiatrists treat high-risk patients such as those with diabetes and neuro-vascular conditions, patients that podiatry students would not typically encounter during their training,” Mr Hanrahan said.
“This new clinic allows for much greater interaction between students and Local Health District podiatrists with students able to treat some of the low-risk patients and observe or assist in the treatment of high-risk patients,” he said.
“This collaboration between our Local Health District and the University will benefit patients now and in the future as we work together to ensure the best training environment for student podiatrists,” he said.
In addition the partnership of health and education will result in increased capacity enabling more patients to gain speedier access to treatment.
For information about the Bachelor of Podiatry visit www.newcastle.edu.au/program/11692.html
Media contact: Carmen Swadling, University of Newcastle Media and Public Relations Officer, 02 4985 4276 or 0428 038 477.
