PLAGUED by funding problems and delays, the Mount Isa GP super clinic has no expected completion date in sight despite it being more than four years since it was proposed.
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Super clinics throughout Queensland face similar uncertain futures and lengthy delays.
While the Cairns GP super clinic has been operational for six months, centres promised for Mount Isa, Redcliffe, Townsville, and Gladstone are yet to be opened.
In 2010, plans for the Mount Isa GP super clinic came to a standstill, 12 months after the local division charged with developing the project raised concerns that the $2.5 million allocated was insufficient.
In July 2011, the Federal Government signed a $5 million agreement with Kinetic Health Group.
At the time, Kinetic Health said they expected to begin construction on the clinic with 12 months.
Former health minister Nicola Roxon said that "Mount Isa residents would soon have better access to GPs and allied health professionals".
In June 2012, the Mount Isa City Council approving a request to re-classify the land on the site of the now defunct Town Leagues Club for the use of the super clinic.
Kinetic State manager for Queensland Damien Johnson said he was currently confident that the super clinic would be completed in Mount Isa but was reluctant to give an expected date of completion.
"We are still progressing with the build, but as yet no date has been set," he said.
"We will release more information in the next week."
Kinetic client relations manager Todd McKenzie said they were currently in the process of appointing builders, but could not give an expected date of commencement.
Mr McKenzie said he had no concerns about staffing the super clinic once it was operational despite recent comments made by Central and North West Queensland Medicare Local concerning the loss of seven Mount Isa GPs, due to lack of financial incentives in the North West.
"We currently run the clinic at the mine site and the Barkly clinic and we haven't had a problem getting GP's here, they like working for us and our staff tend to be attracted to the packages we put together," he said.
When asked if the Barkly Medical Centre was likely to close when the super clinic was completed, Mr McKenzie said the plan was to keep the clinics running concurrently but could not give further comment.
