Health centre relief
CENTRAL Highlands Mayor Loueen Triffitt says she can sleep easy now she knows the general practice in Ouse won’t be shutting.
The Central Highlands General Practice has more the 1000 patients and was scheduled to close at the end of the month because staff members at the centre were not willing to comply with the state government mandate that required all medical employees to have their first Covid vaccination by October 31.
Moreton Group Medical Services will step in and operate the medical centre from November 1 to ensure the community can continue to have access to crucial health care services.
Ms Triffitt said it was an enormous relief for residents who were concerned about finding an alternative medical centre that would be able to take them on.
“The doors will not close and the 1200 active patients there will be able to continue on and things will be able to continue as normal,” she said.
“We have a very happy community and there have been many phone calls and many messages since the news,” Ms Triffitt said.
Moreton Group Medical Services managing director
Robert Moreton said that they began making inquiries after learning the practice was to close.
“We have the resources and capacity in doctors to support the service,” he said.
“One of the GPs may stay on (from the current practice) and we will have at least two other GPs out there to retain the service, and others who will come up for specialist services,” he said.
Mr Moreton said the group was working with the Tasmanian Health Service and the existing GP service.
“We are negotiating with the current owners for a plan to move forward and have agreed to start practising from start of November in meantime,” Mr Moreton said.
The pharmacy service that had operated out of the Central Highlands General Practice will also continue.
Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the government was engaged with interested providers, including the Moreton Group, to ensure GP services can continue be provided to the local community beyond the end of October.