More primary care for the South Arm with the opening of Lauderdale Medical Centre
A new team of doctors is on a mission to return Lauderdale Medical Centre to its ‘former glory’ and there’s a big offer for a doctor willing to make the sea change to the South Arm:
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A team of doctors are the fresh faces behind Southern Tasmania’s newest GP clinic, and they are offering any energetic doctor a free surfboard to come and join them.
Lauderdale Medical Centre has just opened its doors after Eastern Shore Doctors Lauderdale closed down 10 months ago at the same location.
The team of four dedicated local doctors are also the owners.
Zhan Chen and Hailey Woolveridge are two out of four new doctors/owners and are keen to restore the practice to its “former glory”.
“You talk to anyone in Southern Tasmania, or just Tasmania in general and there is definitely a mass shortage of access to GPs and primary care and that’s overflowing to the hospital,” Dr Chen said.
“It’s great that we can bring the service back to the community.
“We are happy to build a team of vibrant doctors to restore the practice to its former glory,” he said.
The clinic at 444 South Arm Road is open now, with two full-time GPs and one part time.
Dr Chen is actively recruiting new doctors to join the young and vibrant team at the clinic located just a stones throw away from some of the state’s top surfing spots.
He’s an active surfer and said he’d be open to giving surfing lessons to any doctors that are interested in making the sea change and moving to the South Arm.
“We have a couple of mates coming in May who have admired the surfboard and I said I’ll give you a long board each so they both have a custom one being made,” Dr Chen said.
Dr Woolveridge said they had around 2,000 registered patients before the opening day on Tuesday March 17.
She said an exodus of doctors led to the closure of the corporate owned Eastern Shore Doctors in May 2024.
Dr Woolveridge also owns a clinic in Lindisfarne and said doctor owned practices are often more attractive for both doctors and patients.
“When health is at the core of practice ownership it improves outcomes for the patients,” she said.
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Originally published as More primary care for the South Arm with the opening of Lauderdale Medical Centre
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