Katherine to get second new permanent GP clinic, Bauhinia Health, after months-long doctor crisis
AFTER going several months without a permanent GP service for all residents, Katherine is set to get not one but two new clinics in a matter of months after the announcement of a second new service.
Northern Territory
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern Territory. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- New permanent GP clinic designed to be sustainable healthcare service for Katherine: Operator
- New permanent GP clinic to open in Katherine after Easter
- Some GP clinic relief for Katherine with interim service to begin this week
- Gorge Health owner PJ Stafford closes business after 10 years of operation
AFTER going several months without a permanent GP service for all residents, Katherine is set to get not one but two new clinics in a matter of months.
Katherine resident Anjali Palmer has revealed she expects to open Bauhinia Health, a mixed-billing GP service, at the former Gorge Health site on First Street early in March.
And a group of five local businesspeople announced last week they would open a permanent GP clinic called the Katherine Family Medical Practice in April.
Both announcements follow the closure of Gorge Health – the town’s only GP service for non-Indigenous as well as Indigenous people – on October 28, which left many residents unable to visit a doctor in town.
Ms Palmer, who has a background in health policy and health program delivery, told the NT News she had secured a number of GPs for Bauhinia Health, and aimed to have six full-time doctors on the books.
MORE HEALTH NEWS
Chief Health Officer makes it mandatory to wear face masks at all major NT airports
NT Health hospital overtime bill exceeds $19m during 2019/20, an improvement from year before
NT Health undertaking major internal restructure to ‘integrate’ services
She said several pathologists would be based at the clinic, and medical specialists and allied health professionals would be encouraged to operate out of the building when working in Katherine.
“It just seemed there was a need, and that need needed to be filled and filled quickly,” Ms Palmer said.
“It just seemed the right thing to do.
“It also fit in with my vision around what healthcare should be, and I wanted to put something back into a community that’s embraced me.”
Ms Palmer said it was exciting Katherine would soon go from zero to two GP clinics accessible to everyone.
“Not having a GP clinic has been frustrating for people, and you can see that,” she said.
NT NEWS sizzling new deal: Get all your news for just $5 a month
Ms Palmer has been developing Bauhinia Health for about five months, with support from doctors Jim Scattini and David Brummitt – who jointly own its new premises – and Katherine MLA Jo Hersey.
Ms Hersey said good-quality health services were crucial for attracting professionals and families to Katherine.
‘Housing crisis’: How disastrous building outcomes are hurting the Territory
Two key industry leaders have called for change as the Territory falls ‘starkly’ short of its housing construction targets.
Landmark NT industrial manslaughter trial date looms
International witnesses will be called ahead of the Territory’s first ever industrial manslaughter trial, investigating the death of a beloved grandfather in one of Darwin’s wealthiest suburbs.