Tasmanians in and around Hobart who are struggling financially or do not have a regular GP will have access to an additional 9,000 bulk-billed appointments thanks to the extension of a mobile GP program.
The program, launched in January in partnership with Moreton Group, provides fully equipped mobile GP clinics to Tasmanians who need it most.
Health Minister Guy Barnett said the program has already supported over 3,000 Tasmanians, mostly vulnerable people, with fully Medicare-covered appointments at no cost.
“It was a one year program, we’re increasing that to two years. It’s $550,000 over that two year period. That’s an extra 4,500 Tasmanians, vulnerable Tasmanians, that will be seen each year,” he said.
“We’re really pleased and proud of the service, it is working.”
The service will also expand to the Huon Valley early next year.
Moreton Group Managing Director Robert Moreton said the program has been successful in getting more women and children to appointments by offering them in the daytime.
“31% of the people that access our services identify as being homeless and 60% of the people that access our services say that they don’t have access to a regular GP,” he said.
“So the people are really finding it hard out there to access GPs and the state government has really stepped up to fix this void that the federal government is involved in.”
“The demand for the services will increase with capacity, so the capacity will fill up. People simply can’t afford $105 to go to the GP to get a script.”
“It’s not the GP’s fault that it costs that much money, that’s just the way the health care is.”
