Community concerns about the future of the Dover and Geeveston Medical Centres have prompted some Huon Valley residents to hold a community meeting, with the Dover sports hall hosting hundreds of residents on Tuesday, June 21.

Residents, chaired by Jim McCormack, expressed their concerns to a variety of people, ultimately developing four motions, which will be presented to the Huon Valley Council (HVC).

Dr Eve Merfield, a former Dover GP, current President of the Rural Doctors Association of Tasmania (RDAT) and resident of Dover said with her knowledge of rural healthcare and GPs, she was concerned about the long-term use of locum doctors and the difficulties faced in trying to attract long-term doctors.

“Becoming reliant on locums may mean that you see a different doctor everytime you go to the doctors and that they are very expensive,” Dr Merfield explained.

“Recruiting doctors is difficult.

“What we need to do is make Dover look more attractive then other places around Tasmania.

“One way we can do this is by improving the medical centre as it is not fit-for-purpose.”