BARHAM was in danger of losing its GP clinic when the current operator Ochre lost the visiting medical officer (VMO) contract at the local hospital, but new owners have stepped in and say they aim to keep the practice as business as usual.
New owner Dr Tharindu Uyanage is a Melbourne-based doctor with a keen interest in rural medicine and is a moderator at the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine
The organisation is the only college in Australia dedicated to rural and remote medicine setting professional medical standards for training, assessment, certification and continuing professional development in the specialty of general practice.
There will be continuity of service, with the current team of medicos, Dr Chameera Akurugoda and Dr Anusha Fernando, remaining on staff and forward plans to add another GP to the team.
The Barham Local Medical Health Trust, a volunteer-run charity that advocates for improved health services for Barham and Koondrook, has been instrumental in facilitating and providing due diligence to locate a new operator.
Barham and District Medical Centre practice manager Kerri Hird said the transition should take place on July 1.
“Ochre Healthcare, the previous owners, have been here for quite a while and they have been very helpful to the community, leaving a lot of the medical assets to the community,” Ms Hird said.
“They have left a lot of equipment and facilities here for the community, held in trust by the Local Medical Health Trust.”
