Access to General Practitioners in Ouse

Jeremy Rockliff,Premier

The Tasmanian Liberal Government acknowledges the important role that GPs and the primary healthcare sector plays in caring for our community and is taking all available steps to ensure the continued delivery of GP services in the Ouse and Central Highlands area.

I share the frustration expressed by members of the Central Highlands community that negotiations between two private providers have been unsuccessful, resulting in the cessation of the GP service in Ouse.

I have been in regular communication with the Mayor of the Central Highlands Council over the past week, and I very much appreciate her advocacy and reflecting the community’s concerns.

The Tasmanian Health Service has commenced discussions with alternative service providers in an attempt to establish a short-term solution while a longer-term provider is found.

Acknowledging that the Federal Government is predominantly responsible for funding GPs and primary care, I have raised the issue of support for our Primary Health care providers with the Federal Government and I will continue to raise with my federal colleagues for additional support for this vital sector.

Support is available for any provider who can establish a service in this community, delivering vital services for the people of Ouse and the Central Highlands community.

In the interim, residents of Ouse and the Central Highlands who require medical attention can still access the community nurse at the Ouse Medical Centre, who can assist or refer you to an appropriate service.

Residents can also call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222. If it is an emergency, all residents are asked to call 000 immediately.

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