‘You can’t put a price on getting a GP’: Local council spends 10% of its budget on new doctor
Rural WA shire president Kate O’Keeffe knew she had to throw everything at garnering a GP for her region.
When a small WA town heard their GP was leaving, the council’s phones ran hot with residents urging the shire to secure another doctor.
The Shire of Gnowangerup managed to find a GP, but it cost almost 10% of the council’s annual budget.
It agreed to pay $350,000 a year to support a local doctor, including a house, car and cash contribution to practice costs.
Shire president Kate O’Keeffe says the amount is a burden on the small community, located 350km south-east of Perth.
