Up to 7 current staff and 2 Doctors contracted to the Kruger Medical Centre may be without jobs after Hilltops Council terminated the contract for the current operators, via a resolution of Council, last Wednesday January 15. The draft minutes of the Council resolution, viewed today by the Times makes no allowance for the future of the receptionists, nurses and assistance personnel at the Centre.
Members of the community have also become alarmed at the situation and are fearful that they may lose some staff who they say “are the glue which holds the place together.”
A source told the Times, “Staff are concerned about their job security. They know the patients here, they are aware of their circumstances. The existing staff could stay on including GPs and visiting providers, including Dieticians, Podiatry and Pathology. All of these providers who service the town. They are in jeopardy as well. Most of the Doctors out here need to work under the sponsorship and the rural training schemes. Getting Doctors out here to regional areas is difficult.”
The Kruger Medical centre has a turnover of staff as many of the Doctors complete their training and move on to other roles.
Doctors come and go however, many patients have found stability in the current staff and nursing staff.
“Despite Jennifer and Sazeed not being here they have done a really good job at providing 3, 4 and 5 Doctors. They have always said they will not close the books they will not turn people away.”
News broke on Monday that Hilltops Council had advised the current operators that their contract would be terminated in 28 days.
“Multiple female GPs were being attracted to the facility, there is now a concern around the continuation of patient care. The current staff are aware of the special needs of patients and they have been trying to ensure that these needs have been met. It will put pressure on the medical services in the surrounding towns.”
More to come.
