The Rockliff Liberal Government is working hard to ensure the East Devonport community has access to the services it needs following the Medical Centre's merger with SmartClinics Devonport.
Minister for Health, Guy Barnett, said Tasmanians need access to primary healthcare and the Federal Government's failure to invest in Medicare is putting GP clinics at risk.
"I am hosting a health roundtable on Thursday with the East Devonport community and health stakeholders in response to the medical centre's merger," said Minister Barnett.
"Our Government has been working proactively with the community and health representatives and will continue to do so.
"We're focussed on innovative solutions to ensure Tasmanians get the right healthcare, in the right place, at the right time, and that is exactly what I'm looking forward to discussing at the roundtable.
"It's pleasing to see East Devonport community members, stakeholders and decision-makers coming together to focus on solutions rather than problems."
This approach is already bearing fruit for the City with the seven-day Devonport Medicare Urgent Care Clinic set to bulk-bill its first patients on December 11 across extended hours.
Roundtable attendees will include Mayor Alison Jarman, former EDMC co-owner Dr Bryn Parry, local pharmacist Terry Travers, DoH Director Health Planning Hannah Paal, Primary Health Tasmania CEO Phil Edmondson, HR+ CEO Peter Barnes and Better Medical State Operations Manager Brett McPherson.
Having access to general practitioners is crucial for the health and wellbeing of Tasmanians.
"We know that increased demand on our emergency departments is often due to difficulty in accessing timely and affordable primary health care," Minister Barnett said.
"About 40 per cent of presentations to the emergency departments are semi-urgent or non-urgent, often more appropriately treated by a GP or other primary health services."
