Three new doctors start

Three new doctors have started work on the Peninsula, including a new General Practice surgery opening at Umina and a new GP at Ettalong, according to the Member for Robertson Ms Lucy Wicks.

The former surgery of Dr Ray Martin was reopened by two doctors in May and the third doctor has started work at the Ettalong Family Practice, she said.

"This is an important outcome for the Peninsula, a region that has experienced serious issues accessing GP services," Ms Wicks said.

"Above all, this is a win for our community, who have been strongly advocating for more GPs, including at a major community forum earlier this year where we heard directly from local families," she said.

"It's great we can deliver on our commitment to take action on this issue."

She said that many local practices had previously closed their books to new patients

An expert working group set up to respond to community concerns about access to doctors in the Peninsula region had found there were fewer younger doctors and doctor registrars available to step into the shoes of the doctors nearing retirement, she said.

Ms Meagan Simmonds from the Primary Health Network said: "We are thrilled with how the community on the Peninsula has come together to help address the GP workforce issues.

"Family Medicine Umina Beach opened recently and the new GPs, Dr Chelladurai and Dr Graham, have both taken on 61 new patients in May, and 68 new patients in June totalling 129 new patients in the period since the practice started operating," Ms Simmonds said.

"This is a great development for the wonderful community of the Peninsula," she said.

"Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the local GPs, the local member, the PHN working group, and organisations such as GP Synergy, we are starting to make some real progress.

"This ensures the local community of the Peninsula continue to have access to effective and comprehensive primary health care."

Source:

Media release, 17 Jul 2017

Tim Sowden, Office of Lucy Wicks MP