Doctor open all hours
20 January 09
What do you do when you are struck down with a mystery illness, but just can't fit in a trip to the doctor in between work and family?
The options are to tough it the sickness out or stress that a carefully scheduled lunch time appointment will run over time.
But that will no longer be a problem for at least two days a week on the Coast.
The region's Sunshine Coast's first after hours medical centre will open its doors tonight Tuesday with an aim to cater for professionals and families and ease the pressure on from public hospital emergency systems.
Medicine on Second at Maroochydore will become Medicine After Hours each Tuesday and Wednesday from 6pm to 10pm to give residents an easier option to the long wait at hospitals.
It is a community-driven initiative which medical centre partners Dr Michael Ryan and Dr Roger Morris have envisaged for the growing region for almost two years.
The challenge of staffing an after hours clinic has slowed the concept, but an expansion could be on the cards if the after hours concept works. for the Sunshine Coast.
Dr Ryan believes making medical attention more accessible to residents will help public hospitals by eliminating minor medical problems from long emergency queues.
“Due to a thinning of resources it's very difficult to provide quality care that's geographically friendly – this helps prevent loading up at Nambour hospital,” Dr Ryan said.
“People who have minor emergencies that don't necessarily need to be bothering the hospital, we can help screen that and I believe that should help take some of the load off.”
Dr Ryan said while some considered after hours “unpopular hours”, finding the right staff could lead to a more resourced service in the future.
“One would hope if the load is shared amongst several doctors that it might be easier to do,” he said.
Practice manager Nicky Jardine said although the 13 DOCTOR service provided after hours attention to residents, opening the centre would prove convenient for last-minute appointments and walk-in patients.
She said a $70 fee, slightly higher after 8pm, bulk billing for children, and about 80% back on the Medicare rebate meant patients would be less than $20 out of pocket.
“We hear horror stories about people trying to find medical centres in Maroochydore at night and having to go to Nambour or Caloundra and then wait hours to see a doctor,” she said.
“It has been a dream of the two medical partners to have this extra facility to care for patients and it's up to the community to support it.”
Coast doctors Dr Tim Craven and Dr Clarice Lantai will be the first doctors at the after hours service.