A temporary medical clinic will open in Katherine this week - but only for one a day each week at present.
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The "interim" clinic will only operate on Thursdays for the time being.
The clinic will run from the Rocky Ridge Aged Care Facility at 15 Rocky Ridge Road.
Appointments can be booked from tomorrow call 8950 4853 for appointments between 9am and noon and 1.30-4.30pm on Thursdays.
The NT Primary Health Network has confirmed the interim GP service, operated by Arafura Medical Clinics will start this week, but will only operate on Thursdays.
The interim service is to meet the health needs of Katherine residents after the closure of Gorge Health more than a fortnight ago.
The PHN has been given the task for finding GPs wishing to travel to Katherine to staff a clinic, which it has struggled to do.
"The service will operate on Thursdays initially and progressively build up as more GPs are confirmed," the health service said today.
NT PHN chief executive Gill Yearsley said: "We are in discussions with other locum GPs so confident we will soon be in a position to offer more face to face appointments for Katherine residents.
"We've been lucky to contract Arafura Medical Clinics to host the GPs and provide the practice management system and supports needed to ensure a high quality service."
NT PHN is also in discussions with a number of allied health providers and visiting specialists who may also use the Rocky Ridge Aged Care Facility to deliver their services locally.
Work on a longer term service is progressing, a PHN spokeswoman said.
In addition to the interim service, Katherine residents can continue to access the following services:
All emergency situations, go to the Katherine Hospital ED as you normally would
For routine appointments, you can access telehealth services by having one facetoface appointment with a Darwin practice, which then gives you access to telehealth for up to 12 months
Additionally, you can access:
o HealthNow services from 8am - 6pm available at a cost of $79.00, 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) telephone 8912 4000
o Wurli Wurlinjang Aboriginal Corporation telephone 8972 9100 (eligible clients only)
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