The Hunter’s Federal Labor politicians say the loss of the region’s GP Access After Hours clinics would be ‘terrifying’.
The service only has funding until June, with the Federal budget failing to give its operator Medicare Local any certainty.
Its Hunter clinics have eased the load on the region’s emergency departments.
Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon said it makes no sense to cut GP Access funding.
“It’s terrifying the idea that this service is going to close down in less than 50 days time,” she said.
“More than a million people have used this service since its inception, some 11 or 12 years ago.
“This has been a really vital service, not only in Newcastle, but in the Hunter region.”
Ian from Bolwarra Heights said GP Access might have been a lifesaver for his daughter.
“My daughter back in 2012 was diagnosed with stage four cancer through that service,” he said.
“Without it, who knows where she would be today.
“Basically, on a weekend found something that shouldn’t be where it was.
“Then we booked into GP Access at around about midday, and by 8:00pm we were diagnosed.”
Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley said her department was continuing to work with the Hunter Medicare Local to ensure the After Hours GP Service transitions to the newly established Hunter New England Primary Health Network.
“$98.8 million was committed in Tuesday’s Budget for after hours services, and these claims are nothing more than a scare tactic from the Labor party,” she said.
“In addition, funding will also be made available to Primary Health Networks to tailor additional after hours service to meet local community needs.
“The Hunter region has a particularly large and well established after hours service, and that is something we want to ensure continues.”