Greenpoint GP clinic owners IPN says they warned MP Brian Mitchell clinic might close a year ago

The owner of the Greenpoint medical clinic says it raised concerns about the future of the Bridgewater facility with MP Brian Mitchell a year ago. Details:

Lyons MP Brian Mitchell admits he was part of discussions regarding Greenpoint Medical Clinic closure, but was asked by clinic owners IPN to not discuss it publicly.

Federal Labor Lyons MP Brian Mitchell has confirmed he knew and contacted the Federal Health Minister about the dire circumstances of Greenpoint Medical Centre almost a year before it announced its closure.

The clinic announced it would close its doors earlier this month, leaving 8000 patients without a local GP.

The community held a protest outside the facility the following day.

Community members protest against the closure of Greenpoint Medical Centre at Bridgewater. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Mitchell was contacted by IPN Medical Services, owners of Greenpoint Medical Services, in December 2022 for a meeting to “tour the facilities” of the Bridgewater clinic.

Yet, once he arrived at the meeting, IPN executives from interstate were present, discussion quickly surrounding the future of Greenpoint.

Mr Mitchell says the option of closing the clinic was discussed at the meeting and IPN stated it needed government assistance.

“The executives said to me that they may have to close if there is no support,” he said.

“I spoke to them in regard to what I could realistically do for them as a member and they told me that the clinic required $800,000 in funding to hire three locums.”

From here, Mr Mitchell said that he told IPN executives the funding was “unlikely”, but would take the request to Federal Health Minister Mark Butler.

Mr Mitchell said that Mr Butler declined the funding request as the Health Department doesn’t “hand out money”, saying he was unaware whether Mr Butler’s office contacted IPN or Greenpoint formally to discuss this.

Greenpoint Medical Centre at Bridgewater is set to close with many community members unhappy. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

However, Mr Mitchell denies that he refused to act on the knowledge of the centre’s future, stating that IPN had told him the issue was confidential.

“I posted on social media about my meeting with IPN,” he said.

“IPN contacted me immediately and said that the closure was to remain quiet and asked me to remove my post on the meeting.

“I agreed because I thought that they didn’t want to panic the community.”

Mr Mitchell said that private owners IPN and parent company Sonic Healthcare Group had decided that the business of Greenpoint was no longer “viable” and it was time for the government to “step up” to cover the service absence.

“IPN and Sonic Healthcare are not clear on this,” he said.

“Sonic Healthcare posted a profit of $1.5bn for the 2022 financial year.

“Yes, the clinic has had issues with staffing and the low return from bulk billing, but ultimately, the business has decided that it cannot make money at this practice.

“We can’t have a community without services though, especially healthcare.”

Mr Butler said that the Department of Health would “continue to work” with the state government to support GP services in Tasmania, with private practice issues such as workplace culture, scheduling or remuneration offered to potential staff, not a federal government responsibility.

IPN declined to comment on the Greenpoint closure discussions, only stating that it was “aware there are discussions underway at various levels of government and will be happy to participate as appropriate”.

Tasmanian Health Minister Guy Barnett met Greenpoint patients and health organisations on Monday to discuss the future of the centre.