Waiting times to see a doctor are improving in Forbes since the inception of the towns Medical Centre with doctor’s numbers doubling in the town over the past five years. The Forbes Medical Centre has evolved from being a “suburban general practice” to a sustainable large general practice that is attractive to graduate doctors.
The Forbes Medical Centre has evolved from being two small general practices in the town to a large teaching and academic general practice. Local Patient Neil Biddle visited the centre on the opening day five years ago and has been very impressed with the development of medical services in Forbes since,
“The new facility is great with practice nurses available and a lot more services,” Mr. Biddle said. “Plus the hospital is right across the road making everything very accessible.” Following surveys conducted in the early 2000’s, local GP’s identified the need to develop one large facility in order for Forbes to be more attractive for young doctors graduating from university. It was at the same time Forbes was down to five permanent doctors.
The primary purpose in establishing the Forbes Medical Centre was to meet these wishes of young doctors and in doing so make Forbes an attractive destination. “An unexpected bonus is that with the critical mass of Doctors, the Forbes Medical Centre has also been able to attract visiting specialists, multiple allied health professionals, university funding, enhanced administration plus other services,” Forbes Medical Centre Practice Manager Beverlie Gardiner said. “The challenge for the centre now is to maintain the small doctor’s surgery feel for patients despite being a large medical centre.”
The Forbes Medical Centre now employs 28 staff including Doctors, Nurses, Reception and Administration Staff as well as engages a number of contractors including bookkeeping and IT services, Nurse Practitioner, Dietitian, cleaners and handyman services.