Labor will open a government-run GP clinic in Risdon Vale as part of its ‘TassieDoc’ election commitment.
Labor leader Dean Winter said the clinics would deliver free, bulk-billed medical services to communities doing it tough without enough local doctors if his party forms government.
“Tasmanians are living through a health crisis where they can’t get in to see a doctor,” Winter said.
“Our TassieDoc clinics solve both problems by giving people access to free medical services where they live.”
Risdon Vale has been without a GP for over 12 months, forcing locals to travel out of the area to see a doctor.
Katie Hayes from the Risdon Vale Pharmacy said the closure had hit the community hard.
“Accessibility has been a very big challenge and we spend a lot of our time in the pharmacy trying to direct people to where they can access care,” Hayes said.
“[Some patients] have definitely avoided going to the doctor.”
Under Labor’s plan, the government would provide the building, nursing staff, admin support and equipment and directly employ GPs.
Winter said this model would help attract early-career doctors who don’t want the stress of running a business on top of treating patients.
The clinics would operate within the public health system, with patients needing only a Medicare card to get treatment.
If elected, Labor plans to open more clinics in Burnie, Devonport, Launceston and Glenorchy.
“In time, we want to see these clinics rolled out right across the state,” Labor’s Ella Haddad said.
