By DANIELLE GALVIN
AN ACUTE shortage of doctors in the hills will become critical in the coming years unless plans to extend the Emerald Medical Centre are taken up.
Principal at Emerald Medical Centre Dr George Somers said residents would not have access to adequate primary health care unless urgent action was taken.
“While serving the people of the district well in the past, the capacity of the building has now been outgrown by local demand,” Dr Somers said.
“We have registered 100 new patients every month over the past three years.
“The population is growing older, requiring more complex and integrated management, particularly of chronic disease,” he said.
At a launch of the new plans for expansion recently, Dr Somers urged the three tiers of government to support the centre’s bid for a major redevelopment.
La Trobe MP Jason Wood and Cardinia shire councillors were told of the “workforce crisis” and need for expansion.
The new practice would be double the size of the current facility.
“There is a crisis looming in the hills,” Dr Somers said.
“The current system of primary health care delivery is under threat – we do not have enough doctors to service our growing and ageing population.
“Further, I believe that six of the 10 doctors in Emerald, who already mostly work part-time, will leave or retire within five years.”
Dr Somers said the population serviced by the centre continued to increase. Over the past 20 years, nearly 10 GPs have left the district.
“All new recruits have been through Emerald Medical Centre,” he said.
“There is currently an acute workforce shortage, not recognised by government agencies.
“Over the next couple of years, this will become critical.
“Emerald Medical Centre has chosen to proactively accept this challenge.”
Dr Somers said in the 33 years he had run the practice, the facilities had become over-crowded.
“Extra space with rooms built to current standards will enable recruitment of more GPs, particularly more female GPs,” he said.
“While Emerald Medical Centre is open 63 hours every week, more after-hours services, especially on weekends are urgently required.”
Dr Somers said the nearest hospitals in Berwick, Dandenong and Ferntree Gully were 20 kilometres away and there was a need for allied health services in the hills.
“The only fully equipped emergency rooms in the district are in Emerald Medical Centre,” he said.
“Due to incoming emergencies, we are often forced to treat two patients at a time in our single treatment room.
“The extension will provide two stand-alone treatment rooms upstairs and a triage emergency room downstairs.”
At the launch, Mr Wood said that the Federal Government would announce new support for the development of practices such as Emerald Medical Centre.
