New hope to ease GP pain

Bulk billing service is up and running again

Written by STEVEN BURK - Wangaratta Chronicle

THE wait is hopefully over for patients struggling to see a doctor in Wangaratta, with the opening of a new dedicated bulk billing service last week.

The new practice, staffed by Dr Olivia Stuart, is Ovens and King Community Health Service’s (OKCHS) second attempt at running a clinic in Wangaratta.

The first ran for two months last year, with OKCHS saying it was forced to shut due to a lack of patients.

But OKCHS manager of corporate services, Peter O’Keefe, is hopeful the new clinic will be around for good.

"The board of OKCHS is fully supportive of the venture and hopefully with a bit more advertising, it will stay open," he said.

Mr O’Keefe believed the clinic would fill a gap in medical services in Wangaratta.

"There are new people coming into town who could have to wait for months to see a doctor," he said.

"The feedback we’ve been getting is that most of the clinics have closed books."

He said the bulk billing service was available to anyone.

"In the past, people probably thought this was just for people with a health care card, but it’s not," he said.

The new clinic has had strong bookings in its first week of operation and could expand in the future.

"That’s the plan," Mr O’Keefe said.

"If we see the demand is there, then we will look to source another doctor."