Maggie in desperate hunt for more GPS

MAGNETIC Island’s only medical practice risks facing closure if it cannot soon hire more doctors.

The gravity of the situation came to light last week when Latitude 19 Health’s sole doctor took two weeks leave due to an unexpected “family illness”.

Last Thursday and Friday the practice had no doctors, meaning patients had to reschedule appointments.

Practice manager Kath Smith was concerned for residents on the island if there is a second wave of coronavirus.

“If we do get a second wave of COVID, and ferries are stopped, people won’t have access to healthcare,” she said.

This year the practice has been operating with one doctor, losing two others at the end of last year.

From today, patients will be able to return to the practice with a locum doctor.

Ms Smith said despite the idyllic lifestyle the island offered, it was still difficult to hire general practitioners.

“We’re in danger of losing the practice,” she said.

“I’ve been trying to recruit myself and that is a challenge.”

She said the practice was categorised as a five on the Modified Monash Model, a system used to define how remote a location is.

It uses data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics to determine what health services are needed based on the population.

Ms Smith said the island was once rated a seven on the scale in 2015, the most remote an area can be on the scale.

According to the 2016 Census, 2335 people lived on Magnetic Island with the average age being 54.

Ms Smith contacted Herbert MP Phillip Thompson, who raised it with Health Minister Greg Hunt and Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck.

>>Ms Smith urged interested doctors to apply by emailing her at

admin@l19h.com.au.