The state’s Health Minister has taken another swipe at his federal counterpart after stepping in to prevent the permanent closure of a Lauderdale medical centre.
The Eastern Shore Doctors clinic was scheduled to close by the end of June, with staff and patients to be moved to the nearby Bellerive practice.
The retirement of several doctors and challenges in attracting new staff were cited as reasons for the closure.
Minister Guy Barnett said the Tasmanian Government had “once again acted quickly to secure this positive outcome”.
“GPs are the frontline of health care and reduce the pressure on both our EDs and our urgent care clinics and the evidence is clear that the Federal Government are continuing to fail Tasmanians in their responsibility to adequately fund them,” he said.
“It follows similar efforts to save GP practices at St Marys, Bridgewater, Glenorchy and East Devonport and once again demonstrates our commitment to ensure Tasmanians have access to GP services.”
Barnett thanked Dr Zhan Chen, Dr Hailey Woolveridge and Dr Jerome Muir-Wilson for their work in keeping the clinic operational.
Clarence City Council Mayor Brendan Blomeley agreed it was “fantastic news” for the local community.
“The Lauderdale practice is a key regional health clinic servicing hundreds of people living in Lauderdale and down the South Arm Peninsula,” he said.
“At a time when health services across the state are stretched, it is critical to keep services like the Lauderdale practice open, alleviating some of the pressure on the public hospital system.”
