Joint Announcement by 
Otway Health and Apollo Bay & District Health Foundation

20 March 2017

Following several months of discussion and planning, the Otway Health (OH) Board of Directors together with the Apollo Bay & District Health Foundation (HF) Trustees are pleased to make the following announcement.

Together with an external consultant we are undertaking a complete review of the General Practitioner services in Apollo Bay & District. Representatives from both OH & HF will work with the external consultant on this important project which is being jointly funded by OH and the HF. Key community stakeholder groups will be consulted as part of the project.

Maintaining an Urgent Care Unit and ‘24/7’ doctors on call will be our highest priority.

Our task is to develop and implement the best model to attract and retain both Doctors and specialists and to build and strengthen health services in Apollo Bay, both now and as the region grows.

Clearly employment and retention of doctors is a huge challenge for rural communities. The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services also recognise this fact and is undertaking a state-wide review of Urgent Care units and how to staff them.

It is anticipated that the preliminary report will be available in late May with a final recommendation in June.