Katherine's interim health clinic is increasing its hours again - this time to cover six days of the week.
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Three GPs have now been secured for the clinic.
Health authorities are in discussions with another three GPs as well to help cater with demand at the clinic.
Most of the "extra" GPs are being "released" from the Tindal RAAF Base and Katherine Hospital.
NT Primary Health Network today confirmed the interim GP service for Katherine is increasing hours from Monday.
The service, located at Rocky Ridge Aged Care facility, will increase to operate:
- Mondays 9am - 4.30pm
- Wednesdays 9am - 4.30pm
- Thursdays 9am - 4.30pm
- Fridays 1pm - 5.00pm
- Saturdays 8.30am - 4.30pm
Appointments can be booked on 8950 4853.
This follows NT PHN securing an additional GP after starting with one and building to a second this week.
The move to an interim clinic came after the town's only private clinic, Gorge Health, closed its doors at the end of October.
CEO Ms Gill Yearsley said, "We have been able to secure one additional GP, bringing the team to three and are in discussions with another three who we hope to confirm arrangements with quickly.
"For the community, this is a great outcome as most of the GPs are from Katherine. I'd like to acknowledge the support of Katherine Hospital and RAAF Tindal who have released their GPs to work with us."
NT PHN continues to support the interim service through the recruitment of GPs and providing critical administrative support, in collaboration with Arafura Medical Clinics.
Over the Christmas period, there will be some changes to the service operation, due to GPs' prior commitments.
The last clinic at Rocky Ridge will be on Wednesday, December 23 and it will reopen on Monday, January 4.
Ms Yearsley said: "During the Christmas period when the interim service closes, residents of Katherine can continue to access a range of telehealth options.
"We encourage patients to start thinking now about any prescriptions they may need in advance of the closure period and to book in any critical checkups."
Residents who have had a face-to-face appointment at Rocky Ridge, can access telehealth through any of Arafura Medical Clinics' Darwin based businesses in the meantime."
The following services remain available throughout the Christmas period:
Katherine Hospital ED - for emergencies only
Telehealth services accessible if you have had one face-to-face appointment with a Darwin practice
Additionally, you can access:
o HealthNow Telehealth services from 8am - 6pm available at a cost of $79, afterhours telehealth service available 6pm - 8am weekdays, after 12pm Saturday and all day Sunday/Public Holidays) - telephone 1800 931 165 (no cost)
o Pharmasave Katherine (pharmacy services, some vaccinations and able to provide medical certificates based on a medical assessment, cost $30)
o Headspace telehealth services for youth aged 12 - 25 in partnership with Arafura Medical (available locally without travel to Darwin once you've had a consult with Arafura Medical face-to-face) telephone 8912 4000
o Wurli Wurlinjang Aboriginal Corporation telephone 8972 9100 (eligible clients only)
Updates to the interim service will be published as things change on the PHN's website at www.ntphn.org.au/news
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