No GP in a pandemic: Wentworth dealt a double blow

WHAT message of hope do you deliver to a community without a doctor when there’s a global pandemic?

And what do you say when you hear of essential grocery items and medications being taken off the shelves by people who are travelling across the border to stock up at stores now struggling to serve the needs of the immediate community?

It’s a double blow for the town of Wentworth, which is confronting these very issues.

Wentworth lost its last GP practice in late February, around the same time Australia started recording its first cases of COVID-19.

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Some of the community’s most vulnerable residents were expressing worry then, but the growing anxiety has now been described as “highly concerning” as the national figure climbs to more than 700 confirmed cases, more than 300 of which are in NSW.

Wentworth and District Community Medical Centre Inc president Glenis Beaumont says people are stressed, especially now they are unable to have their blood drawn due to the closure of the clinic also taking away pathology services.

“I suppose like everyone we thought we had time up our sleeve …we no longer do have,” she said.

“COVID-19 has hit the world and we have an ageing community concerned about the lack of service and lack of GP’s even if they can get to Mildura.

“We understand the workload … we understand the workforce shortage but it still means there are people in our community that don’t have access to a doctor.”

• Wentworth without full-time doctor after medical clinic shuts

The community group has been exploring the prospect of a community-owned and operated medical facility since Tristar closed in March last year.

It’s part of a long-term plan, but one Ms Beaumont says will be impossible to achieve without the support of local, state and federal governments.

Member for Murray Helen Dalton says she was “fobbed off” by NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard when she asked for support in Wentworth.

“The NSW Government is doing nothing about this crisis because there are not enough votes in Wentworth,” she said.

“It’s disgraceful neglect that’s putting lives at risk during a public health crisis.”

Mrs Dalton says she has appealed to Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt for urgent assistance, and vows to lobby the Far West Health District to see what can be done.

“Given all the talk of government stimulus during the COVID-19 crisis, there ought to be scope to fund a GP service in Wentworth,” she said.

“I have also asked Minister Hunt for a pop-up clinic COVID-19 testing clinic in the town.

“The situation is dire … Mildura has closed its books to new patients … Wentworth residents are being abandoned.”

Ms Beaumont says she is expecting a call from Far West Local Health District to cement some kind of partnership, given the imminent need for support.

While Wentworth remains without a doctor, the local pharmacy is the lifeline for the town’s residents.

However, the pharmacy’s retail manager Donna Diodge says they were struggling to find a balance between serving regular customers and meeting the growing demand from Mildura residents.

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“We stocked up on medication three weeks ago knowing that this would happen, so we made sure we had 3-4 months supply for our customers,” she said.

“We’ve still got people from Mildura calling up to see if they can get their supplies.

“I know doctors are telling their customers to get two and three months’ supply in medication, but I don’t think they realise how it’s effecting the pharmacy because people are coming in and panicking saying they need this and they need that.

“We really need to look after our locals and our nursing homes … we have to cater for them first.”

The pharmacy has placed restrictions on paracetamol and puffers, and Ms Doidge says they will be checking dates on scripts to prioritise dispensing medication.

“We’re trying our hardest to keep things together and look after our local, loyal customers,” she said.

“Unfortunately this has brought out greed in a lot of people.”

• Wentworth doctor closures leave a sick situation

It’s a similar story at the town’s only supermarket, according to Ms Beaumont.

“People are concerned about the fact we haven’t got the same supermarket supplies … everyone is experiencing that,” she said.

“There are car loads and car loads of people coming across for the most obscure things.

“Sometimes it’s all of the potatoes, other times it’s the toilet paper.

“That leaves the elderly vulnerable … and it’s just more hardship for them trying to find the staples they needs.”