Another Canberra suburb will be left without a local medical practice when Evatt's two local GPs leave to join the company that will operate the ACT's first super clinic.
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Evatt GPs Michael Brown and Karen Pahlow will shut down their practice on August 17 before joining Ochre Health's Kaleen practice.
The closure is part of a continuing trend in general practice away from small suburban clinics and towards larger corporate centres. In 2008, Wanniassa General Practice, owned by Primary Healthcare, relocated to a larger Primary Healthcare-owned centre in Phillip, prompting outrage from patients in Tuggeranong Valley.
Rumours have been circulating in health circles for months that the Evatt practice would be taken over by Ochre Health, which has been awarded federal government funding to establish a multi-site super clinic, including a hub at the University of Canberra.
The $15 million super clinic will have a medical practice and training facility at UC and will also have branches in Gungahlin and Tuggeranong.
Last month, Ochre Health denied an agreement had been reached with Dr Brown and Dr Pahlow.
But Evatt medical practice patients were informed by letter late last week that operations at the clinic would cease next month.
A public notice in The Canberra Times at the weekend said patients who did not wish to have their records transferred to Kaleen could request copies or summaries of their medical notes.
''Please note that fees vary and depend on your type of request and must be paid before your request is actioned,'' the advertisement said.
''Dr Michael Brown and Dr Karen Pahlow are relocating to Ochre Health Kaleen, and will continue to provide patients with the same quality healthcare services.''
Ochre Clinical operations manager Lynette Reeves said patients would not be forced to pay for copies of their clinical records.
Health Minister Katy Gallagher said she did not think anything could be done to prevent the closure of some suburban medical practices.
''I think it's a natural change that's occurring,'' she said.
''I know for some patients it's upsetting because they've had those close connections with their GPs.
''I know, for that reason, that many GPs are trying to take their patients with them.'' The Chief Minister said the government had to focus its attention on measures that would increase the number of GPs in the ACT.
''We're seeing some positives signs in that respect but there's much more to be done,'' she said.
Federal Member for Fraser Andrew Leigh said the development of the new super clinic in north Canberra would ultimately benefit patients in that area. ''Part of it is about improving the number of GPs, but the other part is about improving training which, historically, we haven't been great at in Australia,'' he said.
''If you look around the country, Australia has more people in hospital than we should have.
''I think patients in Evatt will be pleased that the GP super clinic is setting up there and through the clinic they'll be able to tap into a whole lot of specialists as well.''
Ms Reeves said all of the Evatt practice's staff would be relocated to Kaleen.
