The closure of the Snug medical centre next month is set to have an impact on the entire channel region, with around 13 thousand patients affected. Many, including those on Bruny Island, now face a scramble to find another GP, with services in the area sparse or with long waiting lists already.
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00:00Like a lot of older Tasmanians, Geoff's self has a few health issues.
00:08I've got issues with my vision, with my eyes, I've got prostate issues,
00:15a common thing for guys that are 65 and older. Watch out!
00:22Having a long term GP who knows his health history is important to Geoff,
00:27but the practice he goes to in the southern Tasmanian community of Snug
00:31is about to close because the owner's retiring.
00:34And the GP practice on Bruny Island where he lives already has a long waiting list.
00:39There is certainly disruption and inconvenience and concern
00:43that just goes with knowing that the practice that you've attended is going to close.
00:47Around 13,000 people on Bruny Island and in the Channel region attend the Snug Medical Centre.
00:54Some of those doctors will likely move to a new practice in nearby Margate,
00:58but that won't open until next year.
01:00The Snug Village aged care is next to the GP practice
01:04and has secured a new GP to take over caring for affected residents.
01:08It's important to try and retain local services, but that's getting exceptionally hard.
01:13And the GP who, luckily for us, has agreed to pick up those extra residents,
01:18she's holding a very large load already.
01:20The village is hoping to offer some of its space to GPs at the Snug Medical Centre as an interim solution.
01:26The strain on health services isn't unique to Bruny or the Channel.
01:30It's a problem communities right across Tasmania are facing.
01:34The Royal Australian College of GPs wants to see urgent action
01:38to help boost primary care and turn the tide of closures.
01:42Tasmanian Chair Dr Toby Gardner says the workforce is the sector's biggest challenge
01:47and Tasmania should look overseas for new GPs.
01:50They have to self-fund programs over the course of two years
01:54to become equivalent GPs in Australia at their own cost.
01:57So we've been talking to the state government about their willingness
02:00to help subsidise some of that training for those overseas trained doctors.
02:04But he warns there's no miracle cure for the GP crisis.