Search is on for GP

By Kath Gannaway
THE search is on again for a doctor for Yarra Glen.
The town has been without a GP since September 2007 when the existing clinic closed its doors.
Yarra Glen Chamber of Commerce president Marjorie Woollands confirmed last week that the New South Wales doctor who was to take on the role had pulled out of the deal.
Time and money have beaten the promising initial efforts of the chamber and the Yarra Glen and District Township group who are working together to restore local medical services.
When $55,000 in funding secured by McEwen MP Fran Bailey fell through with the change of government in November, the job of refurbishing Cameron House, earmarked for the new clinic, was back with the community.
“The doctor wanted to come in November; then he wanted to come in January. We weren’t able to accommodate that and found out in February that he was no longer available,” Ms Woollands said.
Prospects of another doctor have also fallen through.
Ms Woollands said however the Chamber and Township Group remain positive with work continuing on Cameron House and a number of initiatives in place to get a health clinic operating and to secure a permanent doctor.
“We have some ancillary services moving in to get the clinic started and we’re hoping that once that is up and running we can fast-track a doctor,” Ms Wollands said.
“The thinking is let’s get this place finished, get the ancillary people in to pay rent and we can then put it out to doctors as a running practice.
“We’re trying all sorts of things,” Ms Woollands said. “I’ve even written to a TV station in the UK which does a program about people relocating to see if they want to relocate a doctor to Yarra Glen.”
She said with the town continuing to develop, including the recent approval for a unit development close to the centre of town, the need for a doctor was even more pressing.
“Work on the 54-unit development has to start within two years so we will have even more older residents and still no doctors. We simply have to get a doctor.”
In the meantime, Ms Woollands said a committee of management was being set up to manage the clinic as a non-for-profit practice.