MEMBER for Lowan Emma Kealy has called on the state government to do more to help recruit doctors for Horsham.
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Ms Kealy used her member’s statement in parliament on Wednesday to highlight the issue.
“Nine doctors have left Horsham since late 2016, resulting in patients waiting for up to a month for a routine medical appointment,” Ms Kealy said.
“This is putting enormous stress on local people with chronic disease, who cannot get prescriptions for medications they need. It is also placing immense burden on the hospital, with emergency department presentations increasing by 50 per cent.
“It is time the Labor government recognise the importance of rural health and provide the Horsham region with urgent support to recruit doctors.”
Earlier this month, Horsham’s Lister House Medical Clinic called on the state and federal government to provide more support after a high turnover in General Practitioners.
The clinic’s practice manager Rob Phillips said the clinic was trying desperately to attract doctors to the country but it had become a fairly tough job.
The state government committed $2.9 billion to rural and regional health in the current budget, including a contribution to the Wimmera Cancer Centre, but did not highlighted any specific recruitment programs.
Ms Kealy said in a later statement that constituents had contacted her over their lack of access to doctors’ appointments.
“Distressed people have contacted me after they have received phone calls from medical clinics to reschedule and further delay their booked appointment times,” she said.
Ms Kealy said the current doctor shortage is not unique to Horsham and was experienced in many regional areas.
“I have previously written to the Minister for Health to raise the desperate need for support to recruit and retain doctors and medical specialists in regional areas across the Lowan electorate,” she said.