Thousands of community members have signed a petition against the closure of the GP Access After Hours service at the Calvary Mater Hospital.
Hunter Primary Care was forced to make the decision after six years of Medicare rebate freezes and recent cuts to bulk-billing incentives by the Government.
The GP Access After Hours (GPAAH) service will close from Christmas Eve, and the opening hours at the remaining four clinics across the region will be reduced.
Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon created the petition yesterday, which has already garnered close to 3000 signatures.
Claydon said the decision would be “devastating news” for the many residents who accessed the vital service.
“This has been an essential service for tens of thousands of Newcastle families who rely upon bulk-billing GP services to access the healthcare they need when they need it,” Claydon said.
“With so few bulk-billing doctors in Newcastle, any further loss of services will have a huge impact on these families already faced with high out-of-pocket costs.”
She said the GPAAH service reduced unnecessary emergency department visits and hospitalisations, saving the health system $21.7M every year.
“Newcastle has led Australia in the provision of GP Access After Hours services, and the value of our primary healthcare model is apparent to all,” Claydon said.
“Yet here we are again, fighting with State and Federal Liberal Governments to maintain its funding.”
Many who signed the petition voiced their concerns about what the closure meant for them and others in the community.
“This is such a vital service. For families, it provides after-hours medical advice & care,” one person wrote.
“Without it, there’s no option but emergency department and a long wait with young children. This is such a poor decision at a time when hospitals are already overloaded.”
“Signed! This is such a vital service (and) to see it go from the Mater is going to affect thousands and just further clog up our emergency departments,” another wrote.
Claydon has also written to Minister for Health Greg Hunt urging the Government to provide funding certainty and ensure the provision of primary healthcare services in Newcastle and the Hunter region.
Hayley McMahon