Snug Medical Centre will be closing in September following the retirement of Doctor Robert Hamilton.
This has posed a challenge for many of the locals who rely on the medical centre for accessible health care, including Jocelyn James, her mother Joanne and son River Stewart.
“To prepare for the closing of this practice I have contacted every medical centre in Kingston, Huonville and Cygnet,” Jocelyn said.
“They have advised their books are closed to new patients.
“Snug Medical Centre closing means we will not have continuity of care which is terrible for people with chronic conditions.”
Snug Medical Centre patients have been advised that a new medical centre planned for Margate could be an option in the near future.
Jocelyn raised her doubts.
“When I first moved here from Sydney seven years ago I was told a new medical centre would open in Margate in six months,” Jocelyn said.
“Doesn’t sound like a guarantee to me.”
Margate Shopping Centre developers the Kalis Group said the Margate Medical Clinic is in the works.
“A proposed clinic and other services have been designed for location on the first floor in one of our buildings that have just been completed,” Kalis Group General Manager Corey Bygraves said.
Managing Director of GP Collective Dr Mark Boldock said it has been proposed that the Margate Medical Clinic will be open in late 2024 and will be accepting new patients.
Jocelyn James said she is seriously considering moving back to the mainland because of the lack of medical assistance available in Tasmania.
“I know of others doing the same thing,” she said.
“We have to now drive a long distance and explain our situation to different doctors over and over.”
Jocelyn gave the example of trying to get medical help for her nine-year-old daughter, with her four-year-old non-verbal son in tow.
“I had to wait with a disabled child in the car for a couple of hours until the urgent care clinic on Bathurst Street opened, and when I arrived on opening, I was told it would be a minimum two-hour wait time,” Jocelyn said.
“After all that, we were sent to the emergency department to wait until 2am because my daughter needed an ultrasound of her stomach, and there are no radiology places open after hours or on weekends.
“Why are children being forced into dangerous situations because there is no help for them after hours?”
Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing Guy Barnett said this was “yet another” example of the Federal Government failing in their responsibility to adequately fund our primary care sector.
“We understand the importance of GPs and we are taking action in this space, with recruitment now underway for 10 state-employed GPs that can be deployed to support rural and regional communities around the state when and where needed,” Minister Barnett said.
Member for Franklin Meg Brown said the State Government’s commitment to employ 10 new GPs needs to be “delivered upon promptly.”
“General practitioner services are particularly important in places like Snug, and this situation is going to result in patients needing to travel further to attend appointments, receive prescriptions and access other general health services,” Ms Brown said.
Federal Member for Franklin Julie Collins said this should be about governments working together to increase access to health services.
“I understand that this is distressing news for some in the Snug community,” Minister Collins said.
Minister Collins advised that the Rural Workforce Agency for Tasmania, HR+, has offered support to Snug Medical Centre to identify a solution for the community and ensure continued access to GP services until a solution is identified.
HR+ has advised that remaining Snug Medical doctors are planning to relocate to a new facility within the local region and continue provision of GP services.
In addition to this, HR+ has been assisting with recruitment activities in Kingston.
The Kingborough Chronicle reached out to Snug Medical Centre for comment.
Let us know how you will be affected by Snug Medical Centre’s closure by sending a letter to the editor to editorial@kchronicle.com.au
