Region secures doctor service

A DOCTOR has been recruited to a much-needed position on Tasmania’s East Coast amid a shortage of such professionals in the region.

The Glamorgan Spring Bay Council, which runs East Coast Health, has announced M. Abolfazi Ayati has arrived in Tasmania and will work at the Triabunna practice.

Dr Ayati, who is expected to start in his role on November 1, qualified as a medical practitioner in Iran in 2012.

After practising overseas for several years, he was granted registration to practice in Australia.

“Council is very happy to have secured the services of another permanent doctor for the Triabunna and Orford area,’’ Glamorgan Spring Bay Mayor Robert Young said.

“The access to quality medical practitioners is something that is very important to our ratepayers. We welcome Dr Ayati to our community.”

Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff also welcomed the announcement.

“The government recognises the importance of GP services in rural and regional areas,’’ Mr Rockliff said.

“We welcome Dr Ayati to Tasmania and we look forward to him treating patients soon at East Coast Health.”

It follows the closure earlier this year of the Spring Bay Medical Centre private practice in Triabunna, which left hundreds of patients scrambling to make alternative arrangements.

The community rallied for changes to the way health care was delivered in the region, including a private provider taking over the running of the practices.

In August, the council called for expressions of interest from suitably qualified people or an organisation to run primary and allied health care services at Triabunna Medical Centre and Bicheno Health Care.