Residents angry as much-loved local GP clinic set to close

Residents have appealed for government help to keep a much-needed GP clinic in their neighbourhood.

Local resident Robyn Hill, left, and Katie Hayes, owner of the nearby Risdon Vale Pharmacy, outside the Risdon Vale Medical Centre, which is set to close on June 30. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

RISDON Vale residents have appealed for government help to keep a much-needed GP clinic in their neighbourhood.

The formerly government-run clinic was outsourced by the then Labor government in 2011. The private operator says it is now not viable and will close on June 30.

Labor MP Alison Standen said the community had been fighting for the clinic, which serviced about 500 people for the past two years.

“We are calling today for [Health] Minister [Michael] Ferguson to step up to explain to this community what it is that he has done and what it is he intends to do to ensure continuing service to this community,” she said.

“If this centre falls over it will mean that sick people will stay in their homes longer than they would otherwise do, it would mean that potentially those people will wait and call an ambulance and turn up to our hospital system rather than getting the care that they need when they need it in the community.”

Risdon Vale Neighbourhood Centre manager Ann Harrison said the clinic’s closure would affect many people.

“It’s had a huge impact. Most of the patients here at our centre are elderly. They are really feeling very overwhelmed. They’re not sure what they should do, who they should turn to, where do they go to, where is the nearest doctor.

“We’ve made a few calls, Lindisfarne and Bellerive, they’re not taking new patients.”

Local resident Robyn Hill said residents were worried about accessing health services.

“This is an elderly sort of neighbourhood. My people have been here 55 years. In that time we have seen a lot of changes but this community needs this centre more than anything.

“Where will people go? You can’t get on a bus every time you need to go to the doctor.”

Risdon Vale Pharmacy manager Katie Hayes said the loss of the clinic would affect the health of local residents and undermine the viability of her business.

“I’m most concerned about the health of the community,” she said. “The people here don’t have access or a lot of services as it is. To disadvantage them, even more, is very concerning.

“With the recent announcement, we’ve already had patients come into the pharmacy very anxious, which is not good for their health as it is.”

Mr Ferguson said the clinic was closing because it was not financially viable.

“The Government is aware that service provider IPN intends to cease its private GP clinic at Risdon Vale from 30 June 2019, following the retirement of a long-serving GP,” he said

“IPN has made several attempts over a number of years, with my support, to improve the clinic’s viability and turn around significant financial losses, including a number of permanent GP recruitment campaigns, trialling new services, increasing the number of days of operation, and campaigns to attract more patients.

“The Department of Health will run an expression of interest process for other providers to offer local health services, and will work to ensure the community has appropriate access to health services.”