MHS interim chief executive Leigh Parker said GPs would not be on call between 10.30pm and 7.30am, but nurses would still be on hand at MHS at all hours, and patients would be assessed by them and either treated or transferred to a larger hospital.

He said in the event of a serious medical emergency, residents should call 000, noting the community was well serviced by paramedics who provided a 24-hour service from the Port Fairy ambulance branch.

GPs would remain on call overnight for MHS inpatients and aged care residents and individual arrangements would be made for patients with specific needs, Mr Parker said.

“Port Fairy and district residents are absolutely assured they will continue to receive high quality and safe medical care overnight,” Mr Parker said.

Port Fairy Medical Clinic’s Dr Andrew Gault said the end of after-hours GPs was about attracting and retaining staff. “If we want to attract and retain the best doctors, we need to ease the pressure associated with working in the clinic, being on call for urgent presentations 15 hours a day, and then being on call overnight as well,” Dr Gault said.