Future of St George health care in the hands of the community

A medical centre in regional Queensland has put their future in the hands of the community in response to a stretched system.

The St George Medical Centre is appealing to their community for help amid future uncertainty.

Health care in regional and rural communities is at an inflection point, where patients are starved for choice and doctors are constrained by a system which is failing them.

The St George Medical Centre has turned to their community to find a solution which will ensure their medical practice’s sustainability into the future.

St George Medical Centre managing director, Alex Benn, said a major catalyst of the problem was the Medicare system.

“Medicare is really not fit for purpose particularly in rural and remote communities,” Mr Benn said.

In 2014, the Medicare rebate for a standard GP consult less than 20 minutes was $37.05. Ten years later, the same GP consultation attracts a rebate of $42.85.

Mr Benn said the minor increase does not begin to cover increasing costs of running the St George Medical Centre.

He said this was particularly problematic in communities like St George, who are tasked with providing primary care to all community members.

“When people are sick, they just want to see a doctor,” Mr Benn said.

But, because the Medicare rebate has not kept pace with the increase in all the costs associated with running a practice and paying doctors, something has to give.

To find a solution without pushing higher costs onto patients, the St George Medical Centre has appealed to the their community for help, through the Balonne Shire Council.

“The provision of health services is not the normal operation of local government, but taking care of the needs of our local community is, which is why we partnered with local health parties to consult with the community on this important issue,” Balonne Shire Council mayor Samantha O’Toole, said.

“This is not just a local issue, it is a national one, and there is a broad range of other rural communities who have faced a similar issue before implementing different models to maintain the sustainability of their GP services.

“By working together as a community, we can find the solution that fits our needs and deliver a sustainable general practice service in St George, which will continue to support the ongoing liveability of our community.”

The Balonne Shire Council has since instated a working group, in coalition with the St George Medical Centre, South West Hospital and Health Service, and Western Queensland Primary, to put finding a solution in the hands of the community.

Chair of the newly-established committee, John Travers, said while he’s no doctor, it’s important to educate the community about what might happen if something doesn’t change.

“All I can see is the issues it’s going to create if we don’t have those services in St George,” Mr Travers said.

He said in their community research so far, they have found the best solution would entail creating a community-owned not-for-profit organisation.

“Getting the community on board is the big thing,” Mr Travers said.

“The government isn’t going to walk in and solve our problems … If we want the standard we’re used to, or better, we need to do that ourselves.”

Mr Travers said while the details aren’t ironed out, the committee is making headway in consulting the community, and ensuring all the community’s needs are met.

“We want to send the message that it is a community entity … We want people to feel that if they want a say, they’ve got a say,” Mr Travers said.

At the beginning of June, there were two community consultation sessions, and a survey was open for the community to have their say.

SWHHS executive director of medical services Dr Carl de Wet, said reliable and equitable access to high-quality general practice services improves the wellbeing of communities and consumers and helps reduce pressure on hospitals.

“The South West Hospital and Health Service, as a major public health service provider in the Balonne region, has worked in close partnership with the St George Medical Centre private practice for years, and we are keen to support ongoing sustainable general practice and primary care models,” he said.

“As such, we are working in consultation with community groups, the Balonne Shire Council, the St George Medical Centre, the Western Queensland Primary Health Network, and various partners to explore the future of the private practice.”

The community can learn more, and have their say here.