Reduced demand sees Hawkesbury after hours GP clinic close
Hawkesbury District Health Service confirms that the Hawkesbury After-hours GP (AHGP) Clinic will cease operating after 31 January 2022, due to low demand and recruitment challenges.
19 Jan 2022
The decision to close the clinic has been made in consultation with Wentworth Healthcare (the provider of the Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network) and the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District.Hawkesbury District Health Service CEO Strephon Billinghurst said the clinic was established six years ago to meet a gap in after-hours health care available in the region.
“In that time, the service has provided more than 30,000 patient consultations,” he said.
“GP practices in the region have steadily increased their after-hours services, with 11 now operating in the evening and on weekends.
“As such, this has led to a decline in demand for the hospital-based service.”
Mr Billinghurst said difficulties in recruiting for positions within the after-hours GP clinic had made it hard to provide a reliable service to the community.
“While this decision is regrettable, we are confident that our community has a range of after-hours health care services available to them, including our Emergency Department for urgent and acute care,” he said.
Patients can find practices that operate after-hours near them on the National Health Services Directory or by visiting www.doctorclosed.com.au for information about after-hours health services available in their area, including the National healthdirect after-hours GP helpline (ph.1800 022 222).