Locum GP takes reigns at Dampier clinic

A locum doctor has been organised to operate out of the Dampier GP clinic after 360 Health + Community announced it was withdrawing from town.

Rural Health West North West regional adviser Chris Pickett said there had been some confusion about whether the Dampier clinic was open.

“The recent closure of the Wickham practice coincides with the GP at Dampier taking some personal leave,” he said.

“That’s led to speculation that the Dampier practice has closed for good, which isn’t the case.

“Rural Health West has arranged for a very experienced locum GP to work at Dampier to continue services for the coming two weeks, after which Dr Kumar will return to his usual service.”

Rural Health West, the City of Karratha, WA Primary Health Alliance and Rio Tinto are in discussions with an alternate service provider that has expressed interest in having the Wickham and Dampier practices assigned to them.

Mr Picket said the organisations were working to ensure services to Wickham, and additional support to Dampier were restored.