News
May 01, 2017
Port Fairy’s Overnight GP service to end
Moyne Health Services (MHS) and the Port Fairy Medical Clinic today announced changes to after-hours care from 1 May 2017.
MHS Interim Chief Executive Leigh Parker said the Urgent Care Centre would operate as normal during the day, but GPs would no longer be on call overnight between the hours of 10.30pm and 7.30am.
Mr Parker said nurses would still be on hand at Moyne Health Services at all hours, day and night.
Port Fairy and district residents needing urgent medical care between 10.30pm and 7.30am could still present to MHS where they would be assessed by nursing staff and either treated or transferred to a larger hospital.
Mr Parker said that in the event of a serious medical emergency, residents were urged to call 000, noting that the community was well serviced by paramedics who provided a 24-hour service from the Port Fairy ambulance branch.
Under the new arrangements, Mr Parker said doctors would still be available every day of the year between 7.30am and 10.30pm.
GPs would remain on call overnight for MHS inpatients and aged care residents and individual arrangements would be made for patients with specific needs.
“Port Fairy and district residents are absolutely assured they will continue to receive high quality and safe medical care overnight,” Mr Parker said.
“Residents and visitors can still present to Moyne Health Services at any time where they will be quickly assessed and either treated or appropriately transferred.”
Mr Parker said MHS was committed to the future of urgent care services in Port Fairy.
“We are pressing ahead with plans to replace the existing urgent care centre with a purpose-built facility on the corner of Villiers and Regent streets in 2017 and 2018,” he said.
Dr Andrew Gault, of Port Fairy Medical Clinic, said the issue was now one of attraction and retention of medical staff.