We are facing the closure of the only GP clinic in Bombala in 2 weeks if no new doctors can be found! It is absolutely a devastating situation to the local community that has always been so appreciative of their local healthcare professionals, especially on such a short notice !

Bombala Medical Centre has been playing such a pivatol role in the southern NSW district. It has not only been serving nearly 1500 population in its own town but also the nearby communities like Delegate, Bibbenluke, Cathcart etc.- even people across the border from VIC . These people would have to travel extra 100Kms  to the closest town with GPs available, if losing GPs in Bombala.

Bombala pharmacy has seen so many patients who will not be able to travel such a long distance to see doctor in Cooma, Bega etc. due to their elderly age or current physical conditions. There are also patients whose activity has long been limited to the town and have not been on a road trip for ages. We have some 90+ old, very immobile patients who has been relied on Bombala local doctors for decades, and this would become a life-threatening situation for them and their quality of life will be devastated !!

With a certainly aging community, Bombala will have lots of people left stranded by this situation feared by so many to happen-- How can we leave patients who can’t even walk without walking aid or take 10+ medications to safely travel 100Kms for their regular GP appointment?  And we certainly cannot expect the community transport service to handle all those who can’t travel by themselves.

There are also patients who must frequently see a doctor for their pain relief medicine of variable dosage, INR blood test etc. which makes a 3 hours trip each time even more devastating.  People will be forced to hold on to their medical needs and their well-being will be heavily jeopardized.

Not to mention our local aged care service will be facing no doctors in only weeks to come - they are supposed to have a doctor visiting on a weekly basis to keep their medications up to their needs!

Even though we still have an Emergency Department in the town, but with only 1 doctor appointed to be regularly on duty, it certainly cannot accommadate 2000+ locals, and would also burn out fairly quickly without the support of a local GP surgery.