Patients scramble as Bowen Hills Medical Centre shuts abruptly

Patients are scrambling for a new inner-city GP after Bowen Hills Medical Centre closed abruptly, leaving many shocked. MAP | CHECK OUT SEQ BULK BILLING HOTPOTS

Bowen Hills Medical Centre has closed with no explanation other than this sign.

Patients have been left scrambling for a new GP after a popular inner-city doctors’ practice closed suddenly this week.

Staff left a notice on the front door of the Bowen Hills Medical Centre, opposite the Brisbane showgrounds, alerting patients to the closure, effective from June 14.

Some patients said they were shocked when their phone calls to book appointments this week went unanswered.

The front-door notice told patients their medical records would be securely maintained and could be transferred to two of the three doctors who worked out of the O’Connell Tce clinic.

All three doctors who ran the practice were unable to be contacted, but all three remained registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency AHPRA.

Forwarding details were available for Dr Matthew McLean, who starts at the Market Street Medical Practice in the CBD next week and Dr Kate Lawrence, whose new address is listed as Evercare, Clayfield.

However, there is no forwarding address or details for the centre’s founder, Dr Abhilash Varshney, who served as the Queensland Reds Rugby Union team doctor from 2012 to 2015.

The centre’s Google reviews from two months ago showed former patients praising Dr McLean and revealing the centre was fully booked.

A former patient, who did not want to be named, said it was difficult to find a new inner-city doctor willing to take on new patients and with carparking.

“Try find a new doctor in inner-city Brisbane where there is free parking — it’s impossible,” one patient said.

Staff at the Market Street Medical Practice in the CBD said they had fielded many phone calls from former patients of the Bowen Hills Clinic but could offer no reason for the closure.

“We do not know what has happened at that practice but we are looking forward to Dr Matt starting here next week,” the receptionist said.

The message on the Bowen Hills Medical Centre’s website alerting patients of the closure.

AMA Queensland president Dr Nick Yim said economic circumstances were making it harder for general practices to keep their doors open.

“While we don’t know the circumstances behind this particular practice closure, GP clinics are facing mounting bills like rent, power, staff and insurance while Medicare rebates for patients are woefully inadequate,” Dr Yim said.

“We need real reform of Medicare rebates to ensure patients have access to their GP, as GPs are crucial to keeping people well and healthy and out of hospital.

“We also need guarantees from the state government on payroll tax.

“While Queensland has done more than any other state to mitigate the impact of the new interpretation of the tax law, we need reassurance that GPs, who have applied for the amnesty from payroll tax will not have to pay this new tax and that backdated bills issued before the amnesty was announced, will be waived.”

The popular practice, believed to have had more than 600 patients, bulk billed concession card holders, pensioners and children under five.

It charged private fees slightly above the average of $92 for a standard consultation, with a Medicare rebate of $41.40.

Extended consultation fees ranged from $161 to $268 with Medicare rebates ranging from $80.10 to $118.

Patients were also charged a fee of $30 for failing to attend an appointment without notice.