A NEW family-run general practice is about to open its doors in Tamworth with the goal of growing the city’s GP workforce.
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Dr Casey Sullivan and her husband Rick are putting the finishing touches on their new practice “My GP”, which will be based within the HealthWISE office on Peel St.
The family-run business will take a family-focused approach to health, according to the Sullivans.
“We’re trying to encompass family health,” Dr Sullivan said.
“So, men, women and children’s health, mental health, chronic disease, it’s looking after everybody in the family.
“Mum and dad, nan and pop.”
There are already a healthy number of GP surgeries in Tamworth, but Dr Sullivan there was a patient-base in town crying out for more medical professionals.
The locally-raised doctor said a new practice in town would offer space to entice new GPs to the bush.
“The practices we have at the moment, we could easily encourage more GPs to town, we’ve definitely got the patient base,” she told The Leader.
“One of the tricks for getting GPs is you actually have to have the physical space to bring the patients in.
“So most of the practices at the moment are actually at capacity, but they’re also teaching practices so they have to leave rooms open for registrars to come through.
“That’s why having another practice in town would actually increase capacity.”
Dr Sullivan said Tamworth does have it tough when comes to attracting doctors to town.
“A lot people like to stay coastal. We don’t have beaches, we don’t have large shopping,” she said.
“Once they do get here, they tend to stay.”
It could be a while before My GP boosts its medico stocks, with Dr Sullivan the only doctor on deck, but in the meantime, the establishment of a new practice in her hometown is a dream come true.
Mr Sullivan – who will take his first foray into the health industry – will join as practice manager.
The service won’t be bulk-billing patients, with the Tamworth doctor pointing to the ongoing freeze on Medicare rebates bearing to much financial burden for practices.
The practices we have at the moment, we could easily encourage more GPs to town, we’ve definitely got the patient base.
- Dr Casey Sullivan