Clinic makes parents' life easier | Whitsundays News | Local News in Whitsundays

THINGS just got easier for Whitsunday parents of newborns after the Whitsunday Newborn and Family Drop-in Clinic was opened on Friday.

The clinic, which has been added to the facilities at the Cannonvale Community Health Centre, will give parents from around the region the much needed flexibility to drop in without an appointment between 2pm and 4pm every Monday to access specialist advice on caring for their baby.

The service will be run by two expert child health nurses and is designed to ensure continuity of care for newborns, from the time they get out of hospital until they are eight-weeks-old.

Ruth Roberts is co-ordinating the service and said it would provide a safety net for parents.

“Some people don’t like to come to scheduled appointments,” she said.

“This service will allow them to gain access to a qualified health nurse for education, support and guidance, without having to make an appointment.”

The Whitsundays is one of nine destinations for the clinics, which were promised leading up to this year’s state election.

Minister for Health Paul Lucas was in town for the opening.

Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt said that in addition to the benefits of consulting a health nurse, the drop in clinic would stop new parents from feeling isolated.

Mr Lucas expected a similar service to be up and running at the Proserpine Community Centre early in the New Year.