Wednesday, 4 February 2026

 Danny O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (09:42): It has been a very difficult time in Leongatha for the past few weeks with the sudden closure of Leongatha Healthcare, the largest GP clinic in town and indeed the region. The closure occurred over a weekend with very short notice to staff and the 18 GPs employed at the clinic, and patients were generally not notified. I pay credit to my colleague Melina Bath in the other place who spent time there on the Monday morning informing bewildered patients of the closure as they arrived, as there was neither a sign on the door nor a message on the answering machine advising patients of the closure. There has been significant concern from patients about access to their medical records, return of pathology results and access to medicines stored onsite, not to mention their ongoing concern and connection to their GPs. Thankfully, many groups have stood up to help notwithstanding this was a private business decision. I would like to thank Bayside Health regional, formerly Gippsland Southern Health Service, and CEO Louise Sparkes and her staff, who have stepped up in many ways, not least of which by increasing the resourcing of the urgent care ward at Leongatha Hospital and allowing former GPs from Leongatha Healthcare to see patients from there. They have also managed to recover and store medicines from the clinic at the hospital so patients can access them. Likewise, local GP clinics have helped to take on patients where they can, and the Gippsland Primary Health Network has increased availability of online and telehealth services. I am pleased that former GPs are seeking to establish a new clinic, and I am working with Ms Bath and our federal colleague, member for Monash Mary Aldred, to try and help facilitate this new service as quickly as possible. I appreciate the anxiety and stress this has caused to the 8000 or so patients at the clinic.