THE Swan Hill Primary Health Medical Centre moved from its previous location to the new McCrae Street site at the end of October 2024.
Since the relocation, the clinic has treated more than 15,000 patients with an average wait time of just 14 minutes.
During this transition, new signage has been installed on the building’s exterior, and extensive work has been carried out inside to ensure a smooth process for services, staff and patients.
The centre has a non-attendance fee policy that applies if an appointment is not cancelled at least two hours in advance.
While this has always been the policy, there has been an increase in missed appointments without prior notice, despite reminder texts being sent to patients the day before.
There are individuals in the community who urgently need doctor appointments and will gladly take a cancelled slot if they are informed in time.
In light of the recent move and being all too aware of the GP crisis currently evident in Australia, we caught up with executive director of medical services Dr Rex Prahbu, to talk all things Swan Hill Primary Health Medical Centre.
Q: How has the transition across to the new location been?
A: It has been a positive experience overall. Our staff really pulled together to ensure the move went smoothly, and it was a relief to finally settle into a single facility after operating from two separate clinics. We had a lot of planning to do, but having everything under one roof has made a significant difference.
The extra space is one of the biggest improvements – our administration staff now have more room to manage patient flow, and our clinicians have access to modern, purpose-built rooms and treatment spaces, which is crucial for delivering high-quality care.
The one challenge we’re still managing is meeting the growing demand for patient appointments which has exceeded our current capacity, and we’re actively working on medium-term strategies to recruit more GPs and expand our team.
We also faced the unplanned challenge of relocating our surgical services, but that process also went smoothly, and we’re grateful that everything has come together well.
Q: What does the new location mean for SHDH and the community it serves?
A: The new facility opens up a range of opportunities for us to enhance health-care delivery in Swan Hill and the surrounding areas. .One of the key goals is to establish a primary care hub that will become a central point not just for general practice, but for training and development as well. All our efforts in the last few years have been creating environments of training so that most doctors can advance their general practice career here with us. We know that doctors who have trained with us and spend more than four years in Swan Hill, will stay for longer, unless there are other impeding life factors that force them to leave. Our previous premises had limited capacity for expansion, which restricted our ability to add more GPs or offer additional services. The larger space gives us the flexibility to grow and develop.
It’s also a fantastic resource for training the next generation of rural GPs.
We’re able to collaborate more effectively with visiting specialists, and that’s been a huge benefit for our patients, who can now access a broader range of services under one roof.
Overall, it means better access to comprehensive care, and that’s a huge win for everyone involved.
Q: It is broadly acknowledged that there is a need for more GPs. How is the recruitment going?
A: Recruiting more GPs has certainly been a priority for us, and we’re pleased to report that we’re making solid progress. Since the relocation, we’ve been actively working on both local and international recruitment strategies. Currently, we’ve successfully recruited three GP registrars who will be joining us in the next few weeks, which is a significant step forward. These registrars are at the start of their GP training, and we’re excited to help them grow into rural general practitioners. The Monash and Charles Sturt medical students will also be back consulting in the clinic at the beginning of next month which will help with appointment availability.
We’re also in ongoing discussions with both local and international candidates, and we’re optimistic that by this time next year, we will have secured at least two more experienced GPs to join our team. Our overall target is to recruit four additional GPs to meet the growing demand for services in Swan Hill, and we’re on track to not only hit that target but potentially exceed it.
The new facility, the supportive team culture and the quality of life that Swan Hill offers make it an attractive place to live and work for GPs.
Q: What are you excited to see happen in the future?
A: I’m really excited about the potential for our facility to become a true health hub for the community. Not only will we continue to grow our primary care team, but we’re also exploring new services and technologies to better meet the needs of our patients.
I’m particularly excited about the increased opportunities for training and development. As we expand our team of GPs and work closely with specialists, we’ll be able to offer more comprehensive care and develop a model that could set the standard for rural health care in the future.
There are also plans for further expansion of allied health services, such as physiotherapy, mental health support, and chronic disease management. These are areas where we see a lot of need in our community, and we’re committed to ensuring that Swan Hill has access to the highest standard of care.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?
A: I would just like to take the opportunity to thank the community for their continued support during this transition. We know the past year has been a bit of a whirlwind with the move and the increased demand for services, but the positive feedback from patients and local families has been incredibly motivating for our team.
We’re excited about the future, and we know that the best is yet to come.
