Cobar Mayor prepared to quit over doctors decision
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The Mayor of Cobar, Lilliane Brady, says she will stand down if a decision is upheld not to support two new doctors who want to move to the town.
Last night, councillors voted five-four to support the Outback Division of General Practice that runs the council-owned medical centre, and not subsidise rent for new GPs at another surgery.
Councillor Brady says it is a heartbreaking decision when the town has a 10-day waiting list to see a doctor.
"We'd be be the only town in Australia that would turn away two doctors that have VMO [visiting medical officer] rights already. One doctor is arriving this afternoon and they can well come to Cobar but they have to set up their own practice and have no support from the Cobar Shire," she said.
Council general manager Ray Smith says a rescission motion is expected to be lodged today which will require councillors to reconsider the decision next month.
"After nearly two years of the medical centre not being occupied by doctors we were fortunate enough to enter into the lease with the Outback Division of General Practice and certainly I think all councillors agree there need to be some level of support for the division and to have the medical centre operating in the manner of which it was first intended," he said.
A public meeting is also expected to be held next week.
