Mortlake community's relief at doctor solution

Mortlake Pharmacy owner Trudy Pilcher said news Warrnambool Medical Clinic would reopen a medical service in the town, bringing at least one part-time GP sometime in February, was “fantastic”.

“The pharmacy is looking forward to working with the new doctors in any way that we can,” she said.

The former clinic operating at Mortlake Community Health Centre closed on December 23, leaving the town without a doctor.

“The patients were very good at waiting,” Ms Pilcher said.

“Patients had faith a new one would come. I’m really pleased that now the patients can stay in the same community and not have to move out of Mortlake and go to Warrnambool.”

Mortlake Community Development Committee president Keith Peart said the solution was a positive sign for the future of the town.

“Mortlake is only growing and becoming a bigger town all the time,” he said.

“It’s been a fantastic effort by all concerned in achieving what’s happened.”

“Obviously people have had to travel to other towns, which is extremely difficult for elderly people.”

Warrnambool Medical Clinic’s operation in Mortlake will begin as a six-month trial, but it’s seen as a longer-term solution.

“We were invited to look at what we might do out there,” Warrnambool Medical Clinic practice manager Alistair Ross said.

“It’s a bit outside our comfort zone, but there’s a strong community need and given that’s why we are here, we endeavoured to find a solution.

“It’s on a trial basis, but we want to see what we can do on a sustainable basis.”

Mr Ross said the service would most likely initially involve a Warrnambool-based GP travelling to Mortlake for at least two part days a week, with a view to attracting more doctors and building the practice up over time.

He said staff member doctor Belinda Bell, who was likely to be involved in the revived Mortlake clinic, was enthusiastic about the clinic being set up as soon as possible.

“Obviously we’ve got a social conscience as well, and it’s something we couldn't just turn our back on,” Mr Ross said.

“It’s not an easy thing to do, but we’re trying to organise what we can.”