Atherton Chamber of Commerce stepping in to fix the ballooning Tablelands GP shortage

Atherton Tablelands residents are already feeling the pinch of a general practitioner shortage, but one group is stepping in to attract new doctors to the region. FIND OUT MORE

ATHERTON GP Tony McLellan’s books have been mostly closed to new patients for several years. When he can open them they fill immediately.

“Whenever we open the books we get inundated. We receive multiple inquires everyday from people looking for a GP,” he said.

“If we’re aware of other practices that have availability we refer people to them immediately.”

Atherton Tablelands doctors are increasingly shouldering a ballooning GP shortage.

Between Atherton, Malanda and Yungaburra there are eight GP clinics to service a population of about 10,500 people, or one per 1300 residents.

Dr Tony McLellan from Atherton's Alice Street Medical Centre. Photo: Sarah Nicholson

There will be one less practice as Atherton Family Medical Centre closes its doors in the last week of June as practice owner Dr Michael Ruscoe retires.

Doctors, including Tony McLellan, are extending their hours to accommodate the elderly and frail who will be inconvenienced by the practice’s closure.

“I have been starting earlier and finishing later to do my best to see people with urgent need for care. I know other practices have been doing the same, but this puts doctors at risk of burnout,” Dr McLellan said.

The Atherton Tablelands, where about 25 per cent of the population is aged 65 and over, could face a serious GP shortage in the future as several doctors approach retirement. Photo: Tourism Tropical North Queensland.

“Many of the doctors in the Tablelands region are approaching retirement. We fear we won’t be replaced when we retire.”

The Atherton Chamber of Commerce has stepped in to seek solutions to the issue. The organisation’s president Bree Hargreaves recently posted a Facebook poll to gauge the severity of the issue.

A third of respondents said they have access to a local GP without having to wait for more than three weeks for an appointment.

Another third said they did not have access to a local GP or will soon be unable to access a GP.

One respondent said her family of six have been living in the Tablelands for 11 years, but only three have been able to get access to a GP so far.

Ms Hargreaves met with delegates of the North Queensland Primary Health Network who have been investigating the issue.

“(The delegates) have been holding one-on-one meetings with key stakeholders from various organisations right across the Tablelands over the past week to get an in-depth understanding of all the factors,” said Ms Hargreaves.

“There is no clear solution, but it is positive that there are steps being taken to address the issues and strategies put in place.”

Originally published as Atherton Chamber of Commerce stepping in to fix the ballooning Tablelands GP shortage