Dr Bastian Seidel, former President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and a well known and respected Tasmanian GP, and his team, have commenced practice at the Bruny Island Medical Centre for residents and visitors.
This move follows the Huon Medical Group signing a 10 year contract with the State Government to provide comprehensive GP services to the island community.
Since opening in 2010, the multi-million Bruny Island Health Centre has struggled to retain General Practitioners, forcing island residents to find GPs in Kingston and Hobart.
Dr Bastian Seidel said, “The Bruny Island community deserved continuity of care and comprehensive GP services, rather than ad hoc locums”.
“Residents and visitors to Bruny Island will now have face to face access to a local GP on the island three days a week from 10am to 4pm.
“We will also be available via video-link or phone, supported by the outstanding local community nurses for an additional two days a week.
“We will be seeing patients as of Monday, December 10 with me as the main GP, and I’m delighted that a great group local GPs from the Huon Medical Group will be providing regular sessions on Bruny Island.
“Dr Louise Butler, Dr Angela Retchford, Dr Vanessa Hewson, Dr Alexandra Seidel and Dr Phillip Pullinger are outstanding rural GPs and as a team we will be able to provide comprehensive and highly evidence-based health care to the local island community.
“Our GPs understand the needs of rural communities and importantly we understand how to navigate our patients through the maze of Tasmania’s health system.
“While we have been consulting closely with members of the Bruny Island Action Group, myself and the team are looking forward to getting to know the residents better and becoming part of the local community.
“Most importantly, we are excited to be able to provide an important role in keeping the Bruny Island community healthy, with a strong focus on preventative health.”
Dr Seidel said that in order to reduce Tasmania’s chronic disease burden, we must support community-based healthcare such as the Bruny Island Medical Centre, with GP’s working alongside nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists and other health professionals to ensure a team based and holistic approach that meets the need of our communities.
With tourist numbers increasing on Bruny Island, Dr Seidel also expects to see a number of visitors and wants to ensure they still have a positive experience in the instance they are unwell.
Pictured Dr Bastian Seidel and the team at the Bruny Island Health Centre.
