Peppertree Medical Warwick to close, leaving 3000 patients without GP

Patients at a rural Queensland medical clinic will now be forced to search for a new GP after the federal government’s changes to the Medicare system has dried up rebates for practitioners.

The closure of a rural Queensland medical clinic could force residents forced to travel dozens of kilometres or fill up emergency waiting rooms to see a GP.

Peppertree Medical in Warwick has treated residents for more than a decade and sadly on August 1 will close its doors to almost 3000 loyal patients.

While the ongoing issue of attracting GP’s to rural areas is a contributing factor, the Albanese government’s change to Medicare rebates for practitioners was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Recent changes saw the axing of Medicare GP Management Plans and Team Care Arrangements, replacing them with a new GP Chronic Condition Management Plan, with practitioners now receiving a rebate of $156.55 for preparing and reviewing a plan.

The new rebate comes as a significant reduction from previous arrangements.

Practice manager Barbara Austin said there’s a high demand and need for ongoing care plans, but the practice’s portion of the rebate is no longer enough to fund a practice nurse.

Barbara Austin pictured outside of Peppertree Medical when the clinic moved to its current Fitzroy St location back in 2015. Photo Jayden Brown / Warwick Daily News

Mrs Austin said the clinic had been searching for a second permanent doctor for more than 12 months.

“We have had numerous locum doctors at the clinic but it means that patients don’t always see the same GP each time,” she said.

“Since the pandemic it’s been a real struggle to get GPs out here and to stay out here.”

Southern Downs MP James Lister said he was saddened to hear of the pending closure.

“The closure will be a blow to the practice’s many patients who will now have to find another doctor, and we all know they can be few and far between in the country these days,” he said.

“It may result in more people being forced to attend the emergency department at their local hospital instead, and this puts additional pressure on our state’s public hospitals.”

Peppertree Medical will close its doors to the Warwick community on August 1, after treating patients for more than a decade.

Mr Lister said he always encourages student doctors, nurses and allied health professionals to come to the Southern Downs.

“We’re a great spot and I think more of them should consider working out of the big cities,” he said.

Wait times for new patients have been up to three weeks, depending on how long it takes medical history to be provided to the clinic.

“Apart from a short period at the end of last year, I always kept the books open (for new patients) because I felt we had an obligation to provide healthcare to the community,” Mrs Austin said.

“We wanted to provide a different type of service to the community to make it a more personalised experience, so our patients don’t feel like just a number.”

Mrs Austin said she feared the clinic’s closure would only put more pressure on the town’s four other medical centres, who are facing the same issues.

“I’m very grateful to the patients and Dr Angus for sticking with us, there’s been quite a few tears on both sides of the counter,” she said.

“It has been a great privilege to serve our community and I will miss our wonderful patients.”

While the clinic will officially cease trading, the visiting echocardiogram service will continue to operate out of suite 3 over the next few months.

Originally published as Peppertree Medical Warwick to close, leaving 3000 patients without GP