New permanent GP clinic designed to be sustainable healthcare service for Katherine: Operator
KATHERINE’S new permanent GP clinic is set to provide a long-term sustainable GP service for the whole community once it opens in April, its new operator has revealed.
Northern Territory
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KATHERINE’S new permanent GP clinic is set to provide a long-term sustainable GP service for the whole community once it opens in April, its new operator has revealed.
Katherine Family Medical Practice has today been revealed as the group behind a new plan to establish a permanent GP clinic for all patients after Easter.
The group has also shared new details of the service, including that it will be located on Katherine Terrace and operate as a mixed-billing practice.
It will also feature four full-time GPs and open Monday to Friday, with Saturdays to be added later in the year.
Practice manager Melanie Usher said the operator’s goal was to provide a sustainable GP service for the Katherine community.
“This practice needs to be accessible and viable in providing a service to everyone for the long term,” she said.
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“We are looking forward to supporting the Katherine community with their health needs in the near future.”
The announcement of the new clinic comes after the town’s only GP service for non-Indigenous as well as Indigenous residents, Gorge Health, closed its doors on October 28, leaving the majority of residents unable to visit a doctor in town.
The new practice will be owned by five local families who have run businesses in Katherine for several years.
A spokesperson for the group said its members had developed the new service because they were concerned about healthcare access in Katherine for their families and the wider community.
“Without access to this basic medical service we feared Katherine would stagnate, and we were concerned about the ongoing health of our friends, families, and the wider community,” they said.
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Katherine Family Medical Practice is not affiliated with any previous GP services in Katherine.
The new owners intend to explore new initiatives to ensure its long-term viability.
Ms Usher thanked the NT Primary Health Network (NT PHN) for its guidance and support.
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