Thousands of patients of the East Devonport Medical Centre have breathed a collective sigh of relief with the news the GP practice will re-open.
The clinic will close its doors on Friday, due to being unable to attract new GPs, merging with Smart Clinics on the other side of the Mersey River.
However, another Devonport-based practice, My Clinic Plus, has stepped up and will provide two senior doctors for East Devonport enabling it to re-open within two months.
My Clinic Plus director, Dr Mirza Baig says four GPs will be in place by the end of the year and six by early next year.
In the interim, the State Government will provide a free hourly shuttle bus service between East Devonport and the two main Devonport GP clinics, as well as providing a hotline providing patients with information on what to do and where to go for primary health care.
While pleased with the outcome, Health Minister Guy Barnett is critical of the Federal Government’s lack of involvement.
