Clinic closes doors

A Rockingham After Hours Clinic closed abruptly last Wednesday night, leaving regular patients disappointed and staff members redundant.

Perth South Coastal Medicare Local closed the clinic on Elanora Drive permanently after formal advice from the WA Health Department it would not be opening the Rockingham General Hospital After Hours Clinic to contestable tender.

Chief executive Paul Hersey said without the contract, PSCML would be unable to continue subsidising the clinic.

A clinic staff member, who wished to remain anonymous, said the closure was a terrible loss to the community.

“Every night sick kids and the elderly come in,” she said.

“We probably see about 10 people a night on average.”

The staff member said last Sunday the clinic had had more than 50 patients come through its doors.

“It is such a pity,” she said.

“I’m really disappointed in the decision.

“I’m wondering what the flow-on effects will be.”

Rockingham resident Carly Robertson, who used the clinic regularly, said she wished it was not shutting its doors.

“It’s going to make having children who are sick that little bit harder,” she said.

“My children always seem to fall sick on the weekend or after hours.

“It was great to know you could go there and get the problem looked at.”

Mr Hersey said he agreed the closure was “extremely disappointing”.

“Not just for the clinic, but for the local community, as our service uses local GPs on a part-time roster,” he said. “We have a long history of delivering good after-hours general practice.

“We believe we offered a very competitive alternative.”

However, Mr Hersey said he did not believe the closure would have a significant impact on people’s ability to access after-hours care, given the proximity of Rockingham General Hospital’s GP After Hours service.

An RGH spokeswoman said its After Hours GP Clinic remained open for the community.

“The public can continue to access this service if after-hours medical attention is required and it’s not an emergency,” she said.

Mr Hersey said PSCML would continue to fund the Dial A Doctor home visiting service and other GP practices would continue to provide after-hours services.

Residents can visit psmcl.com.au for information about After Hours Clinics.