A PUBLIC meeting will be held at the Ellendale Community Hall at 11am tomorrow (Monday, July 18) to discuss the ongoing delays in replacing the doctor at the Ouse Medical Centre. A petition will be available for signing.
“Everyone is saying they just want to know what is happening,” meeting organiser Anne Donaghy said. Local councillors and politicians have been invited and the meeting will be chaired by Ron Sonners.
Writing in the July edition of the Highland Digest, Central Highlands mayor Loueen Triffitt said she was continuing to do everything she could to get doctors back to Ouse. “It is my understanding that there are medico-legal issues taking place between parties involved in the prior provision of services,” Cr Triffitt said.
“I remain in constant contact with all parties and whilst I sympathise with their positions and the situation that exists, all parties are aware that my goal is to ensure consistent primary health care services are made available at the Ouse Medical Centre and this starts with permanent doctor services,” she said.
“Acknowledging that the Federal Government is predominantly responsible for funding GPs and primary healthcare, the issue with the Ouse Medical Centre needs consistent, continued attention and immediate resolution. We deserve stable, consistent access to doctors providing basic primary health care services.
“The update I can share with community is there was interest from two GP providers, but unfortunately, they withdrew their interest,” Cr Triffitt said.
