Praise for Naracoorte doctor restricted from treating women

Naracoorte and surrounding towns are reeling from the sudden resignation of a local obstetrician, following restrictions put on him, as locals lament the “massive loss”.

Mothers in the Naracoorte region have thrown their support behind local GP obstetrician Dr Jeffrey Taylor after his sudden resignation, saying he will be “a massive loss to the community”.

Dr Taylor decided to resign effectively immediately after the Medical Board prohibited him from contact with women patients as of October 1.

It is understood the restrictions were triggered by a complaint linked to a consensual relationship.

GP Jeff Taylor at the Kincraig Medical Clinic at Naracoorte.

As well as being a long-serving GP at the Kincraig Medical Clinic, Dr Taylor was principal medical officer of Naracoorte Health Service where he delivered about half of the 150-to-180 babies born there each year.

The service caters to a region including Keith, Kingston, Bordertown and Robe, and patients who cannot get help there face travelling to Mount Gambier.

Mothers who were his patients were full of praise for his care — but were reluctant to be named.

One former patient said Dr Taylor’s retirement was a significant loss for the community.

Dr Taylor delivered the woman’s two young children and she said he had been an excellent family doctor.

Naracoorte Health Service.

“It is a big loss to the whole area, he delivered a lot of babies here,” she said.

“We haven’t had a mothers’ group meeting since the news broke but as you can imagine it is a big talking point and people are wondering what will happen to the important health services he provided.

“We had absolutely no problems at all with his care.”

The woman said she would “absolutely” have recommended Dr Taylor to local pregnant women seeking a caring GP to deliver their babies.

“It’s a massive loss for our community,” she said.

Another former patient said Dr Taylor had been “fabulous” for her family, delivering her twins in Naracoorte when otherwise she would have had to go to Mount Gambier.

“He did all my pre-care when I was pregnant with my twins – he was very good,” the woman said.

“He’s an easy person to talk to, very personable and I have always found him to be great with me.”

Dr Taylor was becoming a generational doctor for the woman’s family, seeing her teenage daughter who also found him approachable and willing to listen.

She said it was always a relief when he was the on-duty doctor when she had to attend the emergency department.

“With my daughter, for example, I said she would be able to go see Dr Taylor and she’s really upset about it,” the woman said.

“I just think to myself – it’s such a loss to the town because we don’t have that many doctors.

“A doctor is a really personal preference thing but I can only say good things about him.”

The woman said if the restrictions were lifted and Dr Taylor resumed practice and he opened a new clinic, she would not hesitate to move her family’s care to the practice.

“I would be the first one there,” she said.

“I think he would have a lot of support. I don’t think what goes on in someone’s personal life should result in something like this.”

Limestone Coast Local Health Network executive director medical services, Dr Sue Abhary, said maternity and obstetric services were “well staffed.”

Dr Taylor declined to comment on legal advice, Kincraig Medical Clinic has not responded and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency does not comment about matters relating to individuals.

Originally published as Praise for Naracoorte doctor restricted from treating women