Another GP practice is facing closure upsetting Labor and locals

Another Tasmanian GP clinic could shut its doors as its owner struggles to replace two doctors who are leaving. Find out the reaction to a warning message.

Labor member for Franklin Dean Winter with Risdon Vale pharmacist Katie Hayes and Tenille Sullivan o Risdon Vale who are all worried about possible closure of the only GP surgery in the suburb.

The owner of another Tasmania doctor’s surgery facing closure says patients will not be left “stranded” but Labor and locals, including a pharmacist, fear for elderly patients who they believe will suffer if the Risdon Vale practice shuts it doors.

Dr Collie Mullins, the owner and director of Healthology, has run the practice for the past five years and said it was unfortunate one doctor was relocating and another was retiring which also left no-one to supervise a registrar.

The practice sent a text message to patients telling them it may close on April 19.

“We wanted to give people forewarning,” Dr Mullins said.

“We are committed to keeping the practice open.

“We don’t want it to shut down, we’re very optimistic, it’s just the nature of the GP workforce.”

Dr Mullins said the practice had 12,638 patient bookings last year and 1395 active patients.

“We will not leave anyone stranded, no-one will be left without a doctor,” she said.

The message says people can make appointments at Healthology at Rosny or Rokeby.

Labor MP for Franklin Dean Winter said the threatened closure followed similar situations in in St Marys, Bridgewater and East Devonport and “this cannot continue to happen”.

“Some patients are upset and frightened,” he said.

“They can’t rely on public transport to get to the doctor because it is more unreliable than ever.

“Labor will provide incentives to bring more GPs as part of our regional health policies.

“In government, we would work with this provider and others like it to protect local GP services.”

Risdon Vale pharmacist Katie Hayes agreed that the areas’ demographic included a lot of elderly people.

“A lot of them are not that mobile, public transport isn’t fabulous here anymore so to try and get to another practice is quite a challenge,” she said.

“Some of them have health concerns. I don’t really want them getting on buses and people are conscious of the cost of petrol to travel to Rosny.

“They want to stay open but they just need help to find a doctor.”

Tenille Sullivan said her 10 year old son has asthma needing regular checks but it’s the older patients she is most worried about.

“We’re a close community and people are upset,” she said.

“It is the elderly I’m thinking about because their bodies are ageing, they don’t have the energy of young people.

“If they’re in so much pain they have to see a doctor but there is no doctor, what is their option, do they clog up the hospital emergency department?”