News

One Health Clinic to close

Mon, 13 Aug 2018 15:13:00

The impacts of a nationwide shortage of vocationally-registered GPs has forced the closure of Buronga-Gol Gol’s only medical clinic.

One Health Buronga filled a void for families and residents on the New South Wales side of Sunraysia when it opened in mid-2015 – but practice manager Kim Faulkner says it’s a lack of doctors, not a lack of patients, that’s leading to the closure early next month.
“We now have three internationally-trained doctors providing services to a list of more than 3000 patients – the growth of One Health has been phenomenal,” Ms Faulkner said.
“We have two full-time doctors and one part-time who are finalising their registrations in Australia, but they need to be supervised by a vocationally-registered GP,” she said.
“Since losing our supervising GP in March when he moved to Broken Hill, we’ve been searching for a replacement, without success.
“We’re devastated that it’s come to this, but we’ve done absolutely everything we can to find a solution.”
Ms Faulkner said Hensgen Partners had been appointed to oversee the closure of the practice, which would occur on September 7.
Liquidator Mark Uebergang said changes to the requirements around the supervision of internationally-trained doctors through their registrations was causing hardship for clinics across the country.
“Supervising GPs now need to be on-site and each supervising GP is allowed a quota of only two training doctors,” Mr Uebergang said.
“That’s caused shortages across the country and One Health is no different to many other clinics – the challenge is that One Health is a small clinic, and didn’t have the option to downsize,” he said.
“Some possible partnerships have been investigated and we fielded a number of expressions of interest to purchase the clinic. We have also conducted a national search for a supervising GP, but nothing has eventuated.
“Now, there’s really no choice. The cost of maintaining the clinic using locums is simply too great and is not commercially viable.”
The clinic’s patients are being advised in writing of the decision from today and patients with ongoing care needs are being supported to ensure they could continue to access the care they need. 
Ms Faulkner said patient records would be shared with patients’ new clinic free of charge.

In addition to three doctors, One Health also has two nurses and three reception staff.  Ms Faulkner said she was working with each staff member and pursuing opportunities on their behalf to find new positions.

“It’s a situation where no one wins, and we’d still be ecstatic if someone came out of the woodwork who could buy the clinic, supervise our GPs and save the jobs of our staff,” she said.
“But mostly we would love to continue to provide a service that has been embraced so strongly by the Buronga and Gol Gol communities and is needed on this side of the river.”