Shock as Tailem Bend medical centre announces it will close

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Thousands of patients will have to travel an extra 25 kilometres to access health care when Tailem Bend’s only GP clinic closes this Friday.

Patients were notified about the sudden decision in a text message from the Murraylands Medical Centre on Wednesday afternoon.

“It is very unfortunate for all of us and the community,” it said.

It is not yet clear what will be done for patients with appointments for next week and beyond, or those awaiting test results.

However, the Tailem Bend clinic directed patients in need of ongoing care to contact Bridgeview Family Practice, 25km up the highway in Murray Bridge.

The text message suggested that the closure decision had been made by the Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network, the branch of SA Health which owns the building where the centre is located.

Director Sanjeev Sabharwal told Murray Bridge News that the medical centre’s lease had run out in September and had never been renewed.

On May 1, he said, he had received 40 days’ notice that the LHN would take back possession of the premises.

“We called so many people asking for support, but they never spoke to us,” he said.

Only on Tuesday of this week, days before the deadline, did Dr Sabharwal finally meet with the LHN’s solicitor.

“They were adamant we had to vacate,” he said.

“We even asked what would happen to patients, follow-ups and duty of care; they didn’t know.

“We are demanding support to work here for the community … the government is spending millions on health care, but where is the money going?”

The centre had also had trouble retaining doctors and nurses, Dr Sabharwal said; and had sought but never received help from the LHN.

Medical centre had been listed as a debtor

The March 7 minutes of the Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network board mentioned that the Tailem Bend Medical Practice was an outstanding debtor.

The board has not yet published minutes for any meeting since then.

LHN CEO Wayne Champion told Murray Bridge News on Wednesday that he had only “received information that the Murraylands Medical Centre had made the decision to cease practising” that afternoon, at the same time as everyone else.

“RMC LHN will continue to have active discussions with the Murraylands Medical Centre to find a mutual resolution,” he said.

Closure is ‘not good enough’, state MPs say

Meanwhile, state MP Nick McBride described the closure as a “kick in the guts” for Coorong district residents who had already suffered from a reduction in health services at Coonalpyn and Tintinara.

“This has left locals frustrated and feeling as though their health care needs are not important,” he said.

"Locals ... deserve access to good quality health care.

“Quite frankly, I am sick and tired of regional residents being treated like second-class citizens.

“It is not good enough to expect people to travel to major centres just to see a GP, or have access to simple health support.”

Neighbouring MP Adrian Pederick said he, too, wanted to know more about the reasoning behind the decision.

He told Murray Bridge News he had not been aware of any problems at the clinic until Wednesday afternoon.

“We just can’t see health services keep getting depleted in the regions,” he said.

“It’s not good enough.

“We’ve got enough trouble with people at Coonalpyn and Tintinara getting (doctor’s) appointments already.”

Tailem Bend Community Centre CEO Tammy Shepherd said her organisation had received numerous phone calls from locals expressing “concern, frustration and confusion”.

She promised to do all she could to advocate on behalf of the community, but urged locals to write to MPs and SA Health themselves.

“It is critical that decision-makers hear directly from the community about the impact of losing essential healthcare services in regional areas,” she said in an email.

Locals expressed their shock in a Tailem Bend community Facebook group.

“This is just wrong,” said one.

“It’s 48km for me to Tailem doctors, 86km to (Murray Bridge),” said another – “I can’t afford that”.

Dr Sabharwal and Solitaire Medical Group have operated the Tailem Bend clinic since 2018.

• Get help: Visit your local hospital or, in case of emergency, call 000.
• Make a complaint: Contact the Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network at health.rmcconsumers@sa.gov.au or on 8580 2402; or state Health Minister Chris Picton at ministerforhealth@sa.gov.au or on 7117 6500.