Our doctor crisis

Jane Emerick
A Torquay doctor shortage is frustrating patients and threatening to “burn out” the town’s remaining GPs, according to health professionals.
Barwon Health’s Surf Coast Medical Centre and Karuna Maya Medical Tree are searching for additional doctors to meet the demands of a growing population.
Surf Coast Medical Centre practice manager Dr Debbie Myers said the clinic was under more pressure than ever after the retirement of Dr Bill Williams last Friday.
The clinic desperately needed a replacement for Dr Williams as well as another GP to ease the load on its remaining doctors.
However, Dr Myers said the clinic was unable to find a doctor willing to work at Torquay.
“We’ve been advertising since February but no one has lined up,” she said.
“We have a very attractive working environment here, so I’m not sure why we haven’t found someone.
“I’d have thought someone would have jumped at the chance.”
The medical centre was the only Torquay clinic taking new patients.
Dr Myers said long waits for appointments were leading to frustration.
“It certainty is very difficult for patients when they can’t get in day to day,” she said.
“Doctors are trying to see as many as they can but we have to look after (the doctors) and make sure they don’t burn out.”
Dr Myers said a doctor shortage in Geelong and the start of flu season was compounding the problem.
“This is a particularly busy time of year for us,” she said.
“This is just one of things we have to deal with because of the growing rate of the population.
“Certainly, we’re trying as hard as we can. If there is an emergency we’ll always try to see people but we won’t have an answer until we hire another doctor.”
Karuna Maya Medical Tree, which has three parttime doctors, has been advertising for another GP since December.
Rob Nelson, the sole doctor at Torquay Central Medical, said he was “totally overwhelmed with patients”.
However, Dr Nelson said he would not advertise for another GP because none were available.
He had felt the heat of patient frustration at Torquay’s doctor shortage.
“I’m disappointed with the lack of understanding in the community,” Dr Nelson said.
“We’re not seeing (patients) because we don’t want to, we’re not seeing them because we can’t.
“People get frustrated and they tend to blame the doctors but the real issue is the doctor shortage.
“Doctors are blamed for a problem that’s not their making.”