MP says everyone’s passing the buck on after hours GP clinics

Everyone is passing the buck on the decision to close the after hours GP clinics at Campbelltown and Liverpool hospitals, federal parliament was told this week.

It appears no one wants to claim responsibility over this controversial decision, said the federal member for Macarthur, Dr Mike Freelander, who believes the decision should be reversed

Instead of accepting responsibility we have had “buck passing between respective state and federal governments, their respective ministries, the Local Health District and contractors’’.

Dr Mike Freelander says the move to close the after hours GP clinics at Campbelltown and Liverpool hospitals was “folly” and “senseless”.

“I have serious concerns about the consequences of this unacceptable closure, not least of which will be an added pressure on our already over-stretched Emergency Departments,” he said.

But neighbouring Liberal MP and government minister Angus Taylor says “repeated and incorrect claims by the Member for Macarthur Dr Freelander about cuts to after hours GP services in south western Sydney were deliberately misleading the public”.

“It has been known for months now that services at Campbelltown and Liverpool Hospitals were being re-opened in local GP practices and in an increased number of locations across south western Sydney,” Mr Taylor said from parliament house this afternoon.

“There has been no need for the Member for Macarthur, as recently as this week in parliament, to claim that services were being cut.

“This has no doubt caused unnecessary concern in the community. It has been irresponsible scare-mongering,” said the member for Hume.

Mr Taylor said he was delighted to be launching this week new GP After Hours services at Campbelltown, Liverpool, Fairfield and Bankstown.

Dr Freelander said that having the GP clinic co-located inside hospitals allowed for referrals between the hospital and clinic as necessary.

Patients that presented to the hospital with a condition that should be treated by a general practitioner could be appropriately be referred to the GP clinic and vice versa, he said.

“I will continue to make enquiries in this matter, to ultimately find those responsible for this decision and fight for a reversal of this move,” Dr Freelander said.