The local shire is “working towards finding a solution” after Kalbarri Doctors Surgery officially closed its doors last week, leaving the town without a general practitioner.
The town’s only GP shut up shop on June 25, after announcing the closure at the beginning of the month.
The surgery operated by MediBloom Group revealed to the community through a Facebook post it could no longer operate based on financial struggles under the Medicare bulk-billing model.
Kalbarri’s population of 1500 people are now forced to look outside the town for medical care, at least for the immediate future.
The “devastated” community face the prospect of travelling for any medical appointments, with the closest GP clinic in Northampton currently operating under a 12-month trial, for three to four days a week.
Telehealth services will be available for residents, but is not always suitable for all appointment types. For example, a mental health treatment plan couldn’t always be prescribed online.
Northampton Shire president Liz Sudlow said the community was “obviously devastated” and the shire was “working towards finding a solution” but wasn’t able to give specifics at this stage.
Supporting health services would generally be a Federal Government responsibility, not the local government, but the shire has previously stepped in to support the Northampton clinic, partnering with Geraldton-based Panaceum Medical Group.
The issue has been raised with multiple levels of government, with Nationals MLA Kirrilee Warr bringing up the closure in State Parliament.
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