Patients in the dark with Better Movement Clinic set to be liquidated

It has been a week since the Better Movement Clinic closed abruptly and its patients have serious questions about why it collapsed and who now holds their medical records.

Better Movement Clinic director John Dennehy with the mobile health clinic van the Toowoomba allied health provider is using to service rural areas, Tuesday, February 9, 2021. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Better Movement Clinic clients living with acute disabilities and illness are searching for alternative health care providers after the business abruptly collapsed.

Many arrived for their scheduled appointments last Thursday to find the award-winning business’ doors locked.

Greg Vincent suffers from Atypical Parkinsonism and through his NDIS package he received specialised physio treatment at Better Movement Clinic.

While he was frustrated that he has to look for a new provider, Mr Vincent said his heart went out to the staff who lost their jobs.

“There were about 20 people who worked there and they had the rug pulled out from under them,” he said.

“They have children, mortgages and rent to pay

“They are very good people who were very passionate about what they did.”

Worrells has been appointed to liquidate the company.

Better Movement Clinic director John Dennehy inside the mobile health clinic van the Toowoomba allied health provider is using to service rural areas, Tuesday, February 9, 2021. Picture: Kevin Farmer

A spokesman for the firm declined to comment on the investigation but it is understood the Better Movement Clinic has considerable liabilities.

Its website was shut down and calls to the company director John Dennehy have gone unanswered.

Mr Vincent said patients and staff were told about the closure via an email from the liquidator.

“The owners should have faced the team.”

“Sending an email after the close of business, saying you have not got a job and the business is closing down, it’s not on.”

The Better Movement Clinic opened in 2013, providing exercise physiology services.

It expanded to include physiotherapy, podiatry, dietetics, remedial massage therapy, exercise science and allied health.

In 2021 it won the Best Regional Business Award at the Toowoomba Business Excellence Awards.

Few providers offer specialised treatment that Mr Vincent received from the clinic and he is facing the prospect of having to take weekly trips to Brisbane.

He is also struggling to access his medical records.

“Those records are a snapshot of where I am,” he said.

“I used to be a long-distance runner but now I can’t walk more than 500m,”

“I will never get back to normal but I just want to keep myself where I am for as long as I can

“Most of Better Movement’s patients were like me, on the NDIS and dealing with the NDIS is hellish, there are not many small practices that want to do it.”

The Chronicle spoke to other patients who reported similar concerns, but who did not want to be identified.

They included the parents of children with acute disabilities who are frustrated by the lack of information.

“I hope the staff find somewhere to continue working as they are all amazing people,” one mother said.

Worrells was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Patients in the dark with Better Movement Clinic set to be liquidated