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  • Monday - Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm
  • Saturday 8:30am – 2:30pm
  • Sunday 10:00am – 5:00pm
  • Public Holidays CLOSED

Adjustment to Clinic Hours & GP Shortages

Adjustment to Clinic Hours & GP Shortages

Adjustment to Clinic Hours & GP Shortages

June 20, 2022

 

Monday – Friday 8am – 6pm

Saturday 8:30am – 5pm, Sunday 10am – 5pm, Public Holidays 8:30am – 5pm.

Ballarto Medical Centre is facing a GP shortage. This has been the case for some time now. Our team of doctors have done their best to maintain our opening hours without impact to our patients and the community.

From Monday 20th June 2022 – the end of July 2022 Ballarto Medical Centre will close at 6pm Weekdays. This decision will be reviewed & we hope to be able to reinstate our weekday evening hours again to support the community.

Over the past few years Government program & classification changes have meant that many of our doctors were unable to continue to work at our location. They were forced to work in more rural & remote areas or designated After Hours Clinics (AMDS Services.)

This has also meant that it has not been possible for us to recruit any new doctors to the clinic or replace doctors that have had to leave. We have a great family team work environment & our clinic is a great place to work. It is just unfortunate that the restrictions placed on our location have made it very challenging for us. We have been seeking local Government Support on this matter for a number of years now.

There has been a senate enquiry into these GP shortages as well as applications to have the classification on Carrum Downs changed. I have personally advocated for the Carrum Downs community in a submission for Ballarto Medical Centre to this enquiry. Our Practice Principals and myself also attended a hearing in Frankston earlier this year to give evidence on this situation.

Mr Mark Butler (then Shadow Health Minister), now incoming Minister for Health also visited us to show his support for our cause.

We will be working with our federal MP Peta Murphy and the incoming federal government to make it easier for us to recruit doctors.

It has been a difficult decision to reduce our practice hours however we genuinely believe this will be temporary until we reach a solution.

Our aim is to continue to provide quality health care to our valued patients and the Carrum Downs Community. We thank you for your ongoing support.

Operations Manager

Rachael Hatzopoulos

 

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