Christian Homes Tasmania steps in to save GP services for thousands in south

Thousands of southern Tasmanian patients will now have access to doctors after a group stepped in to provide accommodation for two GPs. Read how they helped.

Doctor and patient.

Christian Homes Tasmania has stepped in to ensure thousands of southern Tasmanian residents still have access to doctors after the closure of the Snug Medical Centre.

CHT CEO Glenn Hardwick said Snug Village would allow its day centre to be leased by two GPs until at least February next year.

He said the GPs would start seeing patients from Wednesday.

“This will provide the community with uninterrupted GP access and alleviate some of the pressures created by the closure,” he said.

“It is a real challenge to find GPs in rural and remote locations and aged care generally.

“Aged Care GP services is not a favoured practice for GPs, but in rural GP practices, even more so.

“We recognised the critical need for continued local access to healthcare and took this step to assist our community.”

The Snug Medical Centre is closing permanently after the retirement of veteran GP Dr Robert Hamilton.

Doctor gives immunisation to patient. Picture: Istock

Mr Hardwick said the centre had about 13,000 patients including people on Bruny Island.

He said Dr Hamilton was selling the property but not the practice.

“The GP Collective took over the two remaining GPs but there was no accommodation for them, so we stepped in to try and retain them,” Mr Hardwick said.

“Those two remaining GPS do not service any of our residents at all, whereas Dr Hamilton, the original GP did.

“By facilitating this relocation of GPs, CHT reaffirms its commitment to supporting the well-being of the region and its residents, ensuring they have the healthcare resources they need during this challenging period.”

As Tasmania grapples with a shortage of GPs, clinics at Derwent Park, Risdon Vale, and Bellerive have all closed this year.

When the closure was announced, a long time patient of the clinic, who did not want to be named, said there were a lot of elderly patients who would have to travel to a new practice.

The patient said Snug wasn’t the “wealthiest community” so the clinic closure would create “additional costs and worries” for residents.

Snug Village has been operating for about 30 years and includes retirement units and aged care facilities.

It is currently building more units.