Category: Uncategorised

Australia faces a growing shortage of General Practitioners (GPs), particularly in remote areas such as the Kimberley region. Despite the efforts of local health authorities, the difficulty in recruiting and retaining doctors in these areas remains a persistent challenge.

The Kimberley region, known for its rugged landscapes and unique cultural heritage, covers a large and remote area of Western Australia. The population here relies heavily on GPs for their primary healthcare needs, making the shortage of doctors a critical issue.

The shortage of GPs in the Kimberley region has resulted in longer waiting times for patients and an increased burden on the local health system. The situation is expected to worsen unless immediate action is taken to address the issue.

Wunan Health & Wellbeing Centre is working to develop strategies aimed at attracting and retaining more doctors in the area. This includes offering incentives such as rural locum support, financial support for relocation costs, and professional development opportunities. We are also looking at innovative solutions, such as telehealth and the use of advanced technology, to improve access to healthcare in the East Kimberley region.

The shortage of GPs in the Kimberley region is a microcosm of the larger issue facing the country as a whole. Addressing this issue requires a collaborative effort between the government, health authorities, and the medical community.

We urge the public to support these efforts and to raise awareness about the importance of addressing the GP shortage in Australia. Contact: Charlotte Dickie, Media & Communications Manager, 0432 806 041 or communications@wunan.org.au

Appointments are currently in high demand. However due to an increasing amount of unattended appointments last year, the Practice will be re-introducing missed appointment fees from 3rd January 2023.

We understand that your circumstances may change and you may no longer require an appointment or you might not be able to attend. We please ask that you call reception to advise us or reply ‘NO’ to your appointment reminder text. We can then offer the appointment to someone else in need.

If you miss your appointment without notifying us, our system will generate a text message to you, after multiple non attendances or as per the Doctor’s discretion, you may be charged a fee for your missed appointment. This will unfortunately need to be paid and a deposit may be required before future appointments.

Please note this does not apply to rescheduling or cancelling appointments.

To avoid a fee and assist fellow patients needing appointments, please remember to call our lovely reception team on 9168 1001 to cancel.

We thank you for your understanding.

The pandemic is not over, and we cannot be complacent – COVID-19 is here to stay as part of our
new normal. Strong public health social measures are encouraged to keep those most at risk of severe illness safe,
including:

• If you have respiratory symptoms, please advise us and wear a mask.
• If you’re feeling unwell with COVID-19 symptoms and need an appointment, we ask that you please firstly book a telehealth appointment and your doctor or nurse can discuss with you the next steps, should you be required to come into the practice.
• Register positive RAT results at HealthyWA.
• Stay up to date with vaccinations.

Wear a mask if social distancing isn’t possible.

• Wash or sanitise hands regularly.

To book an appointment, you can call our lovely reception team on 9168 1001 from 8am Monday to Friday, Alternatively you can book via the Hotdoc app.

Following the recent changes & announcement made by our State Government, in ending WA’s State of Emergency and the Public Health State of Emergency, the mandate to wear masks in our health setting has now been revoked.

However, COVID-19 is still in our community and we would like to encourage our staff, patients and visitors to the Practice to continue to wear masks when being present in our service.

The team members also kindly ask that you advise us if you have respiratory symptoms as you will still be required to wear a mask.

However, should you be feeling unwell with COVID-19 symptoms and you do need an appointment we would ask that you firstly book a telehealth appointment and your Doctor or Nurse can discuss with you the next steps that might need to be taken should you be required to come into the Practice.

We would also like to encourage to test and isolate if you are feeling unwell with COVID-19 symptoms, stay up to date with vaccinations and continue to wash or sanitise your hands.

Please continue to keep us and our community safe.

You can call our lovely reception team on 9168 1001 from 8am Monday to Friday, if you need an appointment. Alternatively you can book via our Hotdoc app.