Thousands of Northwest Victoria citizens were left without a wholesale-billed family doctor following the closure of a primary care provider in Mildura.
The Tristar medical group closed its two departments in the rural town after the company went into voluntary administration in May.
About 15,000 residents of Mildura and the surrounding area no longer have access to basic health care, said President of the Rural Doctors Association of Victoria, Rob Phair.
“It’s a disaster for these patients,” Dr Phair told AAP. “All of this takes place in a large rural city 550 kilometers from Melbourne.
“We have no obvious quick or easy solutions to find new doctors for these patients, as the other existing family doctors are already full.”
One of the state government’s new urgent care clinics could be set up in Mildura to address the problem, Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said.
The clinics, announced on Tuesday, will operate for extended hours, treat non-critical conditions such as minor infections, broken bones and burns, and will be free for Medicare and non-Medicare cardholders.
Mildura was not initially on the list of places for urgent care clinics, but the prime minister said his government could set up a clinic in the area “as soon as possible”.
“The five we announced plus the 10 we added yesterday will be open in the next two months,” Mr. Andrews told reporters Wednesday.
“But given the Tristar dossier, there is a real priority when it comes to Mildura.
“We are working intensively with the local primary network. I’m sure we’re also talking to the hospital to do whatever we can do as quickly as possible. “
The Prime Minister’s comments were welcome, but an urgent care clinic would not solve Mildura’s current problems, said Matt Jones, chief executive of the Murray Primary Health Network.
“Attention to detours by emergency services, particularly using the existing workforce, is a solution for some communities but not a specific solution for Mildura,” Jones told AAP. .
“Mildura needs more GP skills, more primary care skills in a community that has lost a major provider.”
Murray PHN is working with the federal government and other departments to ensure that affected residents have access to telemedicine services starting Monday, Jones said.
There may also be a pop-up medical clinic at Mildura Base Public Hospital or other locations.
“This will provide immediate relief to an existing problem,” Jones said.
“It will also allow for some stratification of patient needs to ensure that the most vulnerable and those most in need can be seen.”
The closures of the Tristar clinic showed the need for more investment in Mildura’s existing health services, Mildura MP Ali Cupper said.
“When they need medical attention, they will go to the hospital,” Ms. Cupper told parliament Wednesday.
“The Mildura hospital building was built for profit, not for patients. It was never big enough to begin with, let alone now, and is about to be overrun. “
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas told parliament she was working with the federal government and other services to ensure Mildura residents receive adequate care.
A master plan for the future of the Mildura Base public hospital was also “very close” to finalization, Ms. Thomas said Wednesday.