General News
21 December, 2023
Avoca clinic remains open
Just four months since its opening, Avoca’s medical facility on Liebig Street is already finding itself in the midst of instability with Dr Jim Sharples announcing his departure — but despite that, the clinic will continue providing GP services...
Just four months since its opening, Avoca’s medical facility on Liebig Street is already finding itself in the midst of instability with Dr Jim Sharples announcing his departure — but despite that, the clinic will continue providing GP services to the town.
In September this year, Talbot’s Dr Sharples joined hands with Dr Michael Veal, who runs the Central Highland Health Network (CHHN), to open CHHN Avoca, the launch of which was welcomed by the community.
The town has had a rocky relationship with healthcare — prior to CHHN Avoca, it did not have a medical service for nearly 16 months, after the closure of its Tristar Clinic in May 2022.
Now, with Dr Sharples leaving the clinic due to differences in approach towards managing the facility, the uncertainty could continue.
“Unfortunately CHHN and I could not come to an arrangement for how to best operate the Avoca site,” Dr Sharples said.
“It is too early to say [if I’ll set up another clinic], but my staff and I are pursuing other options. We hope to find something suitable by late January or early February 2024, but don’t want to rush into anything that won’t suit long term. Telehealth in the interim is a stop gap measure and not ideal, but provides a means for continuity of care.
“I apologise to the Avoca townsfolk, I had high hopes for operating a patient-care centred bulk-billing practice, with additional services on-site, for many years. I leave the Avoca site completely in CHHN’s stewardship and hope they serve the Avoca community for 2024 and beyond.”
CHHN Avoca owner, Dr Veal said despite the setback, the clinic remains committed to meeting the healthcare needs of all residents.
“We, at CHHN, provide rooms and administrative services for doctors so we don’t employ them, we just give them access to these spaces and Dr Sharples is no longer using our rooms,” he said.
“Dr Sharples is an excellent, passionate doctor who is very devoted to the community and we wish him all the very best.
“The clinic itself is still open and we will continue to provide five days a week, full-time support — we’re just one doctor short and that will affect some of our offerings since we’re limited on what we can do now but this is also a fantastic opportunity for us to provide a room that other GPs can come to.”