THE Tristar Medical Group yesterday opened its seven-days-a-week bulk-billing Eaglehawk facility.The Peg Leg Road clinic will initially operate with three GPs but has enough room for six, a welcome lift for Bendigo's poor level of GPs per capita.Regional and Rural Development Minister Jacinta Allan said at the opening that the State Government had awarded a grant of $60,000 to the burgeoning Tristar Medical Group to allow it to employ more health professionals in country Victoria."The Brumby Government is taking action to tackle the shortage of medical staff in regional and rural Victoria," Ms Allan said."This $60,000 grant will help the Tristar Medical Group hire 30 new staff, including doctors and nurses, at clinics across the state."Tristar Medical Group was established in 2003."It has grown from one doctor in a general practice in Warracknabeal to having more than 40 doctors and 60 administrative and nursing staff at offices in Horsham, Jeparit, Nhill, Kaniva, Penshurst, Mildura and Portland - and now Bendigo."The clinic operates from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, and from 10am to 4pm at weekends.GPs will start seeing patients on Monday. "This new medical facility will be a major boost for Eaglehawk and the surrounding region," Ms Allan said. "Improving access to medical services is a key part of making regional and rural Victoria an even better place to live, work, invest and raise a family."