The Gawler Health Service 24 hour Accident and Emergency service and after hours, GP clinic provided by GP Inc recently celebrated its tenth birthday. At the GP Inc celebrations held recently were Dr Simon Hall, Chairman of Gawler GP Inc with Dr Jaswinder Kaur and Operational Manager Mrs Carlie Hart- both whom have worked for Gawler GP Inc since it began in July 2007. Dr Simon Hall, Chair of GP Inc said the origins of the service “says much about the collegial rather than competitive nature of the local GPs”.“They identified a problem in about 2005 and then worked together to find a solution,” Dr Hall said.“The need for GP Inc’s existence was considered imperative if local GPs were to continue to be involved in after-hours care of residents of the Gawler district and surrounds,” Dr Hall told the guests at the birthday celebration.Local Member for Parliament, Tony Piccolo who attended the celebrations said GP Inc is a not-for-profit incorporated organisation, which started as a result of some local GPs who were under pressure when trying to provide after-hours services in a growing community. Speaking about GP Inc in state Parliament, Mr Piccolo said GP Inc provides Gawler and the surrounding areas with, effectively, an emergency department.“Since opening, GP Inc have treated more than 100,000 patients, which is quite an effort for what is essentially a smaller public hospital. 85 per cent of those 100,000 patients are residents from the Town of Gawler,” Mr Piccolo said.“The Lyell McEwin Hospital works closely with GP Inc to ensure the best possible health outcomes for Gawler residents,” he said.The recent announcement in the State Budget of a major upgrade to the emergency department of the Lyell McEwin Hospital is very important, not just for the Lyell McEwin but also for the Gawler Health Service and GP Inc. “The upgrade will ensure that people in the north and in Gawler have the best access to emergency care available,” Mr Piccolo said.Mr Piccolo stated GP Inc is an innovative model of care, which came about due to local GPs working in a collegial manner, rather than in competition. “It was not a reinvention of the wheel, rather an improvement of previous attempts to fund the old northern division of general practice,” Mr Piccolo said.“Gawler locals are provided with an emergency department that has all the quality care and attention that you expect from a country area due to the care and diligence of GP Inc,” he said.