RIVERVIEW Family Health says it is looking forward to the challenges – and rewards – of providing an increasingly broad range of health services, to the Casterton district, in response to concerns raised over a lack of GP services in the district.

Riverview’s Linda Thompson said while the service could not “solve all the community’s issues tomorrow”, its partnership with a South Australian-based service would provide an accessible and regular GP service, to the Casterton district community and the Jackson Street clinic was taking new patients on a daily basis.

“We are a medical clinic based in Casterton, but we work in in conjunction with Mount Gambier Family Health based in Mount Gambier and doctors work between the sites, where required,” Ms Thompson said.

“Riverview Family Health has been providing services to the Casterton Memorial Hospital for three to four months and this relationship has been working well - we are providing a GP service to the hospital’s acute care and aged care facilities.

“We have recruited further doctors, who will be joining the practice soon; in the meantime, our team that we have on board are facilitating access for medical services within our region to the best of our ability.

“We also provide video and telephone appointments for our patients once they have been seen face-to-face by one of our doctors.”

Ms Thompson said concerns had been raised regarding wait time in accessing appointments at Riverview.

She said there may be some wait times for patients who were transitioning from other services, in order for Riverview to provide the highest quality care.

“Our practice focuses on whole-patient-centred care –with a new patient, we go through a range of health checks to ensure we have everything up-to-date and all the information we require to provide a good quality service to the patient,” she said.

“As such there may be a wait to see the doctor as these appointments are longer than usual appointments.

“Once an initial appointment has taken place, as a patient of Riverview Family Health, we provide urgent appointments when required, after hours assistance and access to other medical staff within our clinics.”

Ms Thompson said queries about the service could be directed to the Riverview practice co-ordinators, Tayler Harris and Courtney Bertrand, by phoning 03 5581 2089.

“They are more than happy to assist you,” she said.