Grantville Medical Clinic closure

I AM sure that I speak on behalf of many of the residents of the Waterline, and bordering towns, who will experience the closure of Grantville Medical Clinic as a considerable blow. 

Notwithstanding, the GP shortages across the country are a reality, which will impact regional areas in particular, it is the limitations in decision making internally which I would question here.

Quality health services, amongst other measures, is significantly impacted by the benchmark of access and equity for all, as Clare Le Serve says, “regardless of location or socioeconomic status”. (Sentinel Times, January 3 2024:5).

Despite State and Federal constraints, is there no capacity for the Wonthaggi Medical Group to have made a decision which would have enhanced the benchmark of access and equity, rather than have diminished it? For example, requiring doctors to travel to various clinics as part of their conditions of employment? Or for another example, consolidating the number of clinics that can feasibly operate to be spread equitably across the whole of Bass Coast Shire, rather than concentrating clinics in relatively close locale?

Warranted, there has been significant growth across Bass Coast Shire in the last five years or so, including the communities of Grantville, Corinella and Coronet Bay, resulting in a seven-day week pharmacy, a new childcare and kindergarten centre, and more recently a supermarket, to respond to this growing need. Isn’t it a contradiction that this hasn’t also resulted in the continuation of a local medical clinic to service these additional families and children?

At a more micro level, I am disappointed at the lack of respectful communication to existing Grantville patients, about the closure. As a patient of the Grantville clinic, I learnt about it by reading the article in the paper, and upon further query was informed that a notice was put on the clinic door! This is extremely poor, and I would have expected all patients to have been personally informed via email or letter. I will however continue as a patient of Wonthaggi Medical and travel further to see my current doctor at Wonthaggi, because she is caring, communicates respectfully, and is responsive to my needs.
 

Name withheld, Corinella