Doctor shortages hit Newman and Hedland as Sonic Health confirms closure dates for two clinics

Pilbara’s already struggling healthcare services will take a double as a major provider in the region confirms imminent closure dates for both Newman and South Hedland. Sonic Health CEO Greg Hutchinson said doctor shortages since COVID-19 had forced the closures of its South Hedland service on June 30 and its Newman centre on July 21. “Sonic HealthPlus has made the difficult decision to cease providing services from our Sonic Health Plus South Hedland and Newman clinics,” Mr Hutchinson said. “Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become increasingly difficult to source doctors and staff to effectively operate general practice clinics in both locations.” Mr Hutchinson said the company was saddened by the decision but would work to ease the burden on the community. “This has not been a decision taken lightly. We have been an integral part of both communities for more than 15 years and our local teams have built strong reputations for providing the highest quality of care,” Mr Hutchinson said. “We are working with a number of stakeholders to determine what services will be available following these dates. “We look forward to continuing our long-standing operations in the Pilbara, through our clinic in Karratha”. The North West Telegraph previously revealed that after public concern was raised at the Port Hedland council meeting about the future of the Hedland clinic, Mayor Peter Carter confirmed that the Town received an email from the clinic on Thursday morning regarding the centre’s future. Cr Carter said the decision was sad and it reflected the difficulties the healthcare industry faced in the region. “They’ve basically told us that they are going to close their doors,” Cr Carter said. “COVID was hard for them and (trying) to get to doctors to relocate to the North West.” “I understand that, I know it is hard. I think every regional place in Australia is trying to get doctors to come to their regional areas and Hedland is no different.” The centre provides a range of services to the community including GP services, drug and alcohol screening, psychologist services and training. Attracting doctors to regional areas has been fraught with difficulties in recent years as the State Government recently announced changes to the rules that regulate recruitment of GPs by local governments. Port Hedland has been hit especially hard by the shortage, with Port Hedland Health Campus offering $3000 for day shifts and $3200 for night shifts for a doctor to join its practice. Cr Carter said doctors were desperately needed in the town to make it a place people wanted to live in. “We need doctors, its part of our community , for the livability for our town. I mean we need doctors to make our town more successful.” A recent Report on Government Services found WA had the lowest availability of GPs in regional and very remote areas per capita in Australia.