Westbury, Evandale in crisis as only GP with capacity suspended
No prescriptions for diabetics and mentally ill. Chemists pushed to breaking point. A Tasmanian town has been plunged into crisis as its only GP shuts up shop unexpectedly.
Launceston
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Diabetics and the mentally unwell foregoing vital medication.
People presenting with serious infections and high blood-pressure to their overwhelmed local pharmacy.
Covid-19 booster shots falling by the wayside and baffled elderly residents arriving for appointments that no longer exist.
Welcome to Westbury, 30 minutes west of Launceston, which was rocked by the news the only GP in town with spare capacity, Dr Serguei Kisselev, of the Westbury Doctors Surgery, had multiple conditions slapped on his practice by health regulator AHPRA, with the effect the surgery was closed for a week.
Patients – those who have mobile phones and numbers on file – received a text on February 1, advising Dr Kisselev, who is also nearby Evandale’s only GP, while also working in Beaconsfield and Sheffield via his network of Your Health Connect clinics, had been “suspended temporarily by AHPRA, without a reason”.
While it’s understood Dr Kisselev’s practice resumed on Monday, the sudden closure again highlighted regional Tasmania’s chronic shortage of GPs, with no end in sight for desperate and vulnerable communities.
According to AHPRA’s register of practitioners, effective January 31, Dr Kisselev can only maintain his registration after providing an undertaking he, among 16 conditions:
— Not consult, treat or prescribe to any patients outside of Australia.
— Not prescribe or supply any substance that has not been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration or any bio-identical hormones.
— Only practice as a medical practitioner when supervised by another registered medical practitioner who holds specialist registration as a General Practitioner.
Furthermore, if no supervising GP is available or willing, Dr Kisselev must “cease practice immediately” until able to nominate a supervisor.
Owner of the neighbouring Soul Pattinson Pharmacy, Kelli Houlahan, said the situation was “awful and acute”.
“I had a lady (last week) asking me how much was a taxi to Legana,” Ms Houlahan said.
“Many practices in neighbouring towns already have their books full, or don’t bulk bill.”
This is the case for Westbury’s other GP clinic, Westbury Medical Centre, which confirmed they were not accepting new patients due to lack of capacity.
Ms Houlahan said she felt “professionally compromised” by becoming the town’s de facto GP.
“We administered Webster packs for 24 patients of Westbury Doctors Surgery,” Ms Houlahan said.
“My concern is that if it becomes too hard, people will just stop taking their medication” – a concern which has already been realised, Ms Houlahan said, with people with ailments as serious as diabetes or acute mental illness unable to get a script and so telling Soul Pattinson they wouldn’t bother with their meds.
Other cutomers have presented to the pharmacy with high-blood pressure or serious chest infections, she continued.
Westbury local Edna Viney, a patient of Dr Kisselev’s, expressed concern at her ability to find another GP, in light of the fact she only drove within the town due to her advanced age.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she said.
Federal Lyons MP Brian Mitchell described the development as a “shocking blow” for towns where Dr Kisselev worked.
“Regional Tasmania is already suffering from a chronic shortage of GPs,” he said.
“Patients from this clinic are going to struggle to find another GP, with clinics in the region already at capacity.”
Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff said he “acknowledged some people are finding it difficult to make an appointment with a GP”.
“Unfortunately, there are regions where recruitment is especially challenging, and these recruitment challenges are being experienced around the country in rural and regional areas,” he said.
Minister Rockliff pointed to a number of programs which were trying to bridge the gap, including a $65m Federal Government fund for rural and remote GPs, and the State Government’s HealthDirect, a 24/7 service.
Your Health Connect was contacted for comment.
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