Doctors pull out

By Shaun Inguanzo
DANDENONG West residents are frightened they will have no access to basic medical services after five experienced doctors and their bulk-billing facility leave the city this month.
The pending closure of the Dandenong West Medical Centre and relocation of its doctors to Narre Warren has also triggered claims that Dandenong West has become a “blackhole”, void of interest by Greater Dandenong council.
Pharmacist Glenn Turner said the closure could cripple his business and force his Dandenong West Pharmacy to close – another loss for residents.
Star contacted the medical centre but did not receive a response before deadline, other than confirmation it is closing late April.
It is believed the medical centre has been acquired by a larger company, and its doctors lured to a new Narre Warren facility that will act as a one-stop-shop medical hub.
Mr Turner said the lack of a local surgery could spell the end of his business, and further disadvantage the area’s elderly residents who would have no medical centre, and no pharmacy, and no easy way to access similar services elsewhere.
“It will be marvellous for Narre Warren people but I doubt other doctors (nearby) will be able to cope with all the patients,” Mr Turner said. “There is another near Heatherton and Gladstone roads, but we have got so many elderly people here and people who don’t drive.”
Mr Turner said Dandenong West had now lost seven doctors over the past five years.
A concerned resident and client of the surgery, who wished to remain anonymous, said he feared the community would be left stranded by the lack of doctors.
“There are lots and lots of old people who live in the area who have been going to the same surgery for years,” he said. “They are now saying ‘hey, what are we going to do’?
“At this stage we don’t know if anybody else is likely to open up in Hemmings Street. The only options for people are to go to Dandenong, which means go to the main drag, the busy area, or probably to Noble Park.”
Cleeland Ward councillor Paul Donovan said the facility’s closure was ‘symptomatic’ of a black-hole Dandenong West was falling into due to lack of infrastructure investment in Dandenong West during Central Dandenong’s $92.8 million revitalisation.
“Dandenong West has been lagging in infrastructure such as roads, footpaths and drains, but it also needs an overall vision from council as to spending on new facilities, new parks, sporting facilities and perhaps a better plan for maintenance of infrastructure,” Cr Donovan said.
“In the interim period there is nothing we can do, but obviously, residents will be more reliant on other medical practices in and around Dandenong.”