Published on Tuesday, 7 January 2025 at 8:07:11 AM
Medical Services Update – January 2025
Shire Advocates for Continued Accreditation of Jurien Bay Medical Centre
The Shire of Dandaragan is actively working to support the Jurien Bay Medical Centre in its appeal to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) regarding a recent decision not to grant accreditation under the Fellowship Support Program. This program is an essential component of the integration of overseas doctors into the Australian medical system whereby new overseas doctors undergo a period of supervision and support before receiving full accreditation.
The decision, if upheld, would significantly impact the medical services available in our community, particularly the essential contributions of one of the Centre’s General Practitioners, Dr. Lily, who is a key part of our local healthcare team. The Shire recognises the critical role the Jurien Bay Medical Centre plays in providing medical care to our residents and is committed to advocating for a resolution that ensures continuity of these services. The Shire President, Cr Tony O’Gorman has also appealed to the Federal Minister for Health, seeking support to continue Dr Lily’s and any future General Practitioners' Fellowship Support Program participation based locally in Jurien Bay.
We will continue to work closely with the Medical Centre and relevant stakeholders to achieve a positive outcome and will keep the community informed as this matter progresses.
As part of the Shire of Dandaragan’s ongoing support for local high-quality General Practice healthcare for residents and visitors, the Jurien Bay Medical Centre operates under a number of key contractual requirements which are listed below. This contract commenced in 2017 and was extended by Council in June 2022, through to the 31st of October 2027.
- Staffing: A minimum of two full-time general practitioners, a casual nurse, and reception staff.
- Availability: General practitioners must be available for consultations at least 5.5 days per week (Monday to Saturday), excluding public holidays.
- Bulk-billing: Specific patient groups such as children under 16, pension card holders, healthcare card holders, veterans, and patients with chronic diseases or vaccination needs must be bulk-billed.
- Timely Access: Appointment waiting times must remain under three days, with provisions for additional staffing if required.
- Preventative Care: Services must include skin checks, flu vaccinations, chronic disease management, and diagnostic testing.
- Locum Coverage: Adequate locum support must be in place during extended practitioner absences.
The Shire is dedicated to ensuring these standards are upheld, working collaboratively with Spectrum Health to maintain accessible and reliable healthcare services for the community.
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