Key talks on GPs

By Dion Teasdale
THREE township groups will convene a meeting this evening with politicians and GP service providers to discuss the after-hours medical needs of the Upper Yarra.
Millgrove Residents Action Group (MRAG), Warburton township group, Bridge 3799, and Yarra Junction township group, Upper Yarra Community Voice, called the meeting last week.
Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato, Federal McEwen MP Fran Bailey and Eastern Ranges GP Association (ERGPA) chief executive, Kristin Michaels, have been invited to attend and speak to representatives from the three groups.
MRAG president, Maureen Halit said the round-table meeting had been called in response to revelations in the Mail late last month that the ERGPA had applied to the Federal Government to service the after-hours medical needs of the Upper Yarra with a mobile GP service.
“Our communities feel that the proposal to service the area with a security guard assisted GP in a 4WD is not the right solution to our after-hours medical needs,” she said.
“We want to make it clear that we need to look at other options and that we believe the $500,000 being asked for the mobile GP service could be better spent.”
Ms Halit said she hoped there would be opportunities for alternative ideas to be discussed and presented back to the wider community.
Upper Yarra Community Voice president, Glennice Mathers, said representatives from the group were keen to take part in the discussions.
“This is a very positive step forward, to get all parties together and discuss the needs of the Upper Yarra communities,” she said.