How are Leongatha residents handling the closure of a local GP clinic?

What happened: The closure of Leongatha Healthcare Group on January 16, which employed 18 GPs, has left thousands of locals without a GP.

The Monitor’s Jacob Wallace took to the streets of Leongatha to ask residents how they were coping with reduced healthcare services in the town.

🗣️ “I’ve heard from a lot of people that it’s impacted them and that it’s a bit of a worry for their health,” one resident said.

“With these guys shutting everyone’s flocking, trying to find access to somewhere they can access a hospital and medical services, that definitely puts extra pressure on everyone,” another local said.

A Foster resident said: “Even in Foster, we don’t accept any new patients and it’s really hard to get an appointment even if you are a patient, you’re booking ahead by about a month.”

Another local said he had immediately booked an appointment with a Mirboo North GP clinic when he heard about the closure, just to make sure he had an check-up locked in.

🎥 Take a look at a video of these interviews below.