Chris Park: Heywood football trainer awaiting surgery amid healthcare crisis in Portland

Patients are waiting for surgeries, general medication is scarce and the emergency department has become the local GP in a small town in south-west Victoria.

Patients are still waiting for surgeries, general medication is out of stock and the emergency department has become the local GP in a country town in south-west Victoria.

Portland, 96km west of Warrnambool, has been without overnight doctors this week.

The town’s maternity services are still closed with a woman who had a history of complicated pregnancies forced to give birth roadside in April.

Pharmacies are being inundated but are struggling to keep up with demand and are running out of general medication.

And patients are still waiting to have surgeries.

Heywood Football Club’s head trainer Chris Park has been waiting to have cataract surgery in his right eye since November last year.

The hospital told Mr Park he would be waiting on the list for 8-12 months.

“I’m a head trainer at the Heywood Football Netball Club, and it’s often hard to discern players on the far side of the ground unless I pick the way they run and move,” Chris said.

“It’s a pain in the bum, it’s only a half a day surgery – I’m not happy about it, not one little bit.”

The town’s only ophthalmologist Robert Harvey resigned from PDH last month after his request to become a visiting medical officer was denied.

Mr Park says he has two options; wait for a new ophthalmologist in Portland, or drive more than an hour to a Mount Gambier practice to see Dr Harvey – only to be placed on the bottom of a waiting list.

PDH has not appointed an ophthalmologist despite more than 100 patients on the waiting list.

Heywood resident Chris Park.

Portland Amcal Pharmacy manager Kylie Zordan, chemists Sarah and Eng. Picture: Supplied

Portland Amcal Pharmacy manager Kylie Zordan says customers are upset because they can’t get into a doctor or receive their regular medication.

“More customers are coming in upset because they can’t get their regular medication. We can try online doctors, we sometimes give supply if they're a regular customer. There are a few options but it’s hard for the patients and for us,” Ms Zordan said.

“It’s been the last two years people can’t get into a doctor here in town, we’ve had quite a few (doctors) leave. We notice it daily and it’s only getting worse.

“If you get sick you can’t get in anywhere, like a child with tonsillitis, you can’t get in and you have to go to A and E. That puts a lot of pressure on the hospital which isn’t designed to see daily regular patients. It’s more you’re local GP, but they are just so booked out.”

Portland’s Guardian Pharmacy manager Lee Caddick said customers were stressed and scared.

“Since Covid I have found patients so stressed because a lot of them are older, and they’re scared, they don't know what they should and shouldn’t do,” Ms Caddick said.

“The current patients can’t get into the doctors or go to the hospital. When they go to hospital they have to wait for ages. There is more pressure on the pharmacy because they then need to come see a pharmacist and it’s much more stressful.”

Ms Caddick said the lack of GP services in Portland was hurting the town.

“I've got people everyday saying they can’t get in to see a doctor to get a script – there are people that move into town, and doctors aren’t seeing new patients, so what do they do?” she said.

Portland Guardian Pharmacy manager Lee Caddick. Picture: Supplied

Portland District Health. Picture: Supplied

Portland District Health announced birthing services would close last month due to staff shortages.

South West Coast MP Roma Britnell says PDH had no overnight doctors or urgent care from April 23 to May 1.

“The most concerning thing is that Portland is a highly populated area with significant industry and has no emergency care overnight. It is nothing short of terrifying to be honest,” she said.

“You have the nursing staff who are highly skilled.

“I have no doubt about that, but they’re not doctors, and they can’t intubate or do what a doctor can do in a life-threatening situation. Telehealth is what Portland’s hospital put out in a statement to say that will be available, so don’t worry. Well no, I’m very worried,” Ms Brittnell said.

“None of us know when we need to turn up to the emergency department – it can happen to anyone at any time.”

In a statement PDH said the urgent care centre was open and 24/7 registered nurses were available.

“Our Urgent Care Centre remains open, safe and effective as always – we have experienced registered nurses 24/7 and several senior doctors on call and our clinical staff are drawing on telehealth services including My Emergency Doctor where necessary,” a spokesperson said.

A locum anaesthetist and two locum midwives will be working at PDH providing support until a permanent position is filled.

Last month the Health Minister Martin Foley said the hospital was having a “temporary set of challenges,” following years of staff shortages, poor education and training opportunities and “flawed” strategic planning, according to a hospital review.

“There is a temporary shortage of midwives, and that’s disproportionately the case in regional rural communities,” he said.

“I know the team is working really hard to fill vacancies, and this will be reviewed every six weeks.”