Katherine’s doctor crisis over as new GP practice Bauhinia Health opens for business

KATHERINE’S months-long doctor crisis has come to an end with the opening of a new GP practice in the town

KATHERINE’S months-long doctor crisis has come to an end with the opening of a new GP practice in the town.

Bauhinia Health, located on First Street, opened its doors today, just one week after starting to take bookings.

It marks the end of a five- month period during which the majority of Katherine’s 10,000 residents were unable to access GP care at an established local clinic, following the closure of private practice Gorge Health in October.

Bauhinia Health practice manager Anjali Palmer said the clinic had seen 40 people for appointments on its first day alone.

“(We have experienced) very high demand,” she said.

“We’re booked out … into the third week of April.”

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Gorge Health closed on October 28 after a long-running struggle to recruit enough GPs to Katherine took its toll on staff.

Its closure meant that, while Indigenous residents could continue to access GP care at Wurli-Wurlinjang, non-Indigenous locals had to attend Katherine Hospital, rely on telehealth or drive three hours to Darwin to see a GP.

Three weeks later the NT Primary Health Network (NT PHN) set up an interim GP service for all residents at The Rock Ridge Aged Care Facility, but the service was never meant to be a long-term solution.

Bauhinia Health will operate as a mixed-billing practice offering GP care, telehealth, screenings, women’s health, pathology, optometry, audiology, cardiac care and some other specialist services.

Bauhinia Health practice manager Anjali Palmer. Picture: Emma Murray

The practice opened with two doctors on staff but is expected to eventually ramp up to six, plus two nurses.

Ms Palmer said staff were relieved to have the clinic up and running but noted “there’s a long road ahead”.

Katherine is set to get a second new permanent GP clinic, Katherine Family Medical Practice, on April 12.

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Katherine Town Council Mayor Lis Clark said it was exciting for the Katherine community to have two new GP practices opening.

“I think the community will have a choice for the first time in many years,” she said.

NT PHN chief executive Gill Yearsley said the opening of two new practices was a “great outcome” for the Katherine community.

“We wish both Bauhinia Health and Katherine Family Medical Practice all the best with their opening and look forward to working with them into the future,” she said.