The region’s radio doctor service has expanded into the Kiama Municipality and at the same time extended its reach north to Scarborough.
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More than 40,000 extra people can now access the Radio Doctor Illawarra service, previously known as Wollongong Radio Doctor.
The expansion was made possible thanks to financial support from Illawarra-Shoalhaven Medicare Local.
A radio doctor base has been established in Albion Park Rail to service the southern Illawarra, the additional doctor and driver adding to the two doctors and drivers already working out of Wollongong.
The not-for-profit, bulk-billing service operates after hours every day of the year. On weekdays it operates from 7pm to 6am and then from noon Saturday through to Monday at 6am.
The service receives about 18,000 calls a year, the majority from parents of young children or the elderly. Radio doctors do not prescribe schedule 8 medicines (drugs of dependence) or care for cuts or wounds and will advise if a hospital visit is necessary.
The service provides a follow-up report to a patient’s regular GP, if the regular GP is a member of Radio Doctor Illawarra.
CEO of Illawarra-Shoalhaven Medicare Local Dianne Kitcher said there had long been a need to increase after-hours service in the Kiama area to ease the pressure on hospitals and the municipality’s GPs, particularly during peak holiday periods when Kiama’s population swelled.
Ms Kitcher said Kiama and Gerringong GPs had been supportive of the expansion, with many already signed up to be members.
‘‘We are delighted to be able to facilitate the expansion into the area and continue the great work radio doctor has been doing in providing critical care after hours for more than 40 years,’’ Ms Kitcher said.
Chair of Radio Doctor Illawarra Liz Magassy said more than 288,000 people could now access the service between Scarborough and Gerroa.
While questions remain as to how Medicare Locals will operate in the future and where funds will flow when the federal government introduces Primary Health Networks, it is hoped the expansion of the radio doctor service will eventually be financially self sustaining.