Karratha women call out the city’s lack of female GPs

Women living in Karratha are fed up with the shortage of female GPs in their region. The absence of female doctors in the city forces residents to endure prolonged medical issues, see male doctors they aren’t comfortable with, and incur high travel expenses for treatment elsewhere. Sarah (not her real name) suffered a distressing experience when she was forced to see a male GP due to the scarcity of female doctors. “There are two female GPs that I know of currently in Karratha , In mid- March I contacted both practices to try book these doctors, and I was told by both they are not taking on any new patients at the moment,” she said “Because of this, I was forced to go to Karratha Medical Centre where the male doctor was dismissive and unhelpful and sent me for a blood test, and never got back to me about the results. “When I suggested that perhaps I might be pregnant, he stared at me in shock and the first question he asked was ‘are you married?’” she said. Sarah believes she would have avoided the misogynistic shaming from this doctor if there was access to more female GPs in Karratha. Pilbara local Alyeesha Hall echoed Sarah’s stance on the impropriety of being forced to consult a male GP as a female patient with a delicate medical matter. “I needed to see a female GP as I had a medical issue that I was only comfortable seeing a female GP about and sometimes the male GPs can be a bit less understanding,” Ms Hall said. “When I couldn’t book in with a female doctor, I then had to find a male GP that specialised in female medical issues, to be able to get the outcome I needed — which still didn’t help as there were some things missed.” Ms Hall said the shortage of female doctors in the region was psychologically harming women. “It (the lack of female doctors) impacts women greatly as not all women are comfortable with having to see a male GP — some might have past traumas or feel less heard when having to see a male practitioner,” she said. Jessica Evans has observed the community’s desperate need for more female doctors through the clients at her Pilbara cosmetic and wellness clinic. “I have a number of women who ask me in my clinic if I can recommend a female GP and I see a number of women in Karratha ask in the online Facebook groups if anyone can recommend a female GP all the time but unfortunately there isn’t anyone,” Ms Evans said. The nurse was forced to see a doctor practising elsewhere via Telehealth, which she describes as sub-standard to in-person appointments. “I had to book myself in with a female GP through a Telehealth appointment which I don’t think is as good as seeing a doctor in person as they are unable to do a full assessment,” Ms Evans said. “Travelling to Perth to see a doctor isn’t always an option for some people which can put people off seeking help sooner rather than later.” Former first Lady Michelle Obama said, “communities and countries and ultimately the world are only as strong as the health of their women.” Many women in Karratha feel that their health is not being prioritised by the local government. Both female doctors operating in Karratha were contacted by The West Australian for comment. One doctor had to decline an interview as the clinic she is employed by prohibits media engagement. The other couldn’t be reached for comment. A Karratha Shire spokesperson expressed empathy and concern regarding the scarcity of female doctors in the city. “Having regular access to doctors and health services is a major factor to the livability of our region.” “We are aware of the current service limitations in this space and will continue to advocate on behalf of our community for these important services to be expanded and improved so that our residents have a level of healthcare befitting of a regional city like Karratha. “ The West Australian contacted Kevin Michel for comment on the issue, but received no response.