Bicheno General Practice

The Bicheno General Practice is located at 94 Foster Street, Bicheno.

Bicheno has a permanent GP’s, Dr Elizabeth Grey and Dr Ashton Kelly. Locum doctors are also available during the year.
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00am – 5pm (Closed between 1:00pm- 2:00pm)

Phone: 03 6375 1455
Email: reception@bichenogp.com.au

Triabunna Medical Centre (East Coast Health)

The East Coast Health Centre is located at 1 Victoria Street, Triabunna.

Triabunna’ s permanent GP’s are Dr Winston Johnson & Dr Aba Ayati.
Locum Doctors are also available during the year.
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30-4:00pm (Closed between 12:00pm-1:00pm)

Phone: (03) 6256 4747

cohealth brochure 

MEDIA RELEASE – 17 NOVEMBER 2023

Community survey reveals crucial insights into local healthcare needs

A survey of people living in Glamorgan Spring Bay Council region has found that wait time for appointments is the greatest barrier to accessing health care, followed by cost, both of which lead many people to seek health services outside of their local area.

A lack of transport was the third most reported barrier to accessing healthcare for residents of GSBC.

cohealth, the not-for-profit health service that recently took over management of the Triabunna and Bicheno medical practices, conducted the survey to better understand what health services locals currently access, what’s missing and how health services could be improved.

The anonymous survey was completed by nearly 200 people from the East Coast community, and is part of a consultation process that also includes face-to-face meetings with community groups and interviews with local services.

cohealth said the survey showed that many people travel out of the region to access health services such as dental, optometry, medical specialists, x-rays and allied health, when these should be available as needed close to home.

The survey, combined with insights being collected through kitchen table conversations will help cohealth to design health services that are tailored to the needs of this unique community.

Eighty-six per cent of respondents felt that there needed to be more government action to improve health services.

cohealth says that the community health model of care is part of the solution to improving access to healthcare in the region, because it takes a team-based approach, in which GPs are part of a team that also includes nurses, allied health, mental health and alcohol and drug services.

cohealth says when high-quality, accessible health services are not available locally that people’s health problems can snowball, leading to more serious issues down the track.

cohealth says bringing health services to the community, rather than waiting for the community to come to health services helps manage chronic health conditions, and keeps people out of hospital

Among the ideas suggested by survey respondents to improve healthcare in the region were more frequent visiting specialists, hiring more GPs and nurses, and increasing incentives for medical practitioners to move to the area for work.

Thank you to all those who took the time to participate. In 2024 cohealth will move to the co-design phase in which communities will be invited to participate in workshops to discuss ideas for improving primary health care services in Glamorgan Spring Bay Council region.

Keep an eye on your local community noticeboard and stay involved!

Learn more about how cohealth is improving primary healthcare on the East Coast of Tasmania: https://www.cohealth.org.au/about-us/what-we-do/improving-primary-healthcare-in-tasmanias-east-coast/

Key takeouts of the survey of Glamorgan Spring Bay residents:

• 44% of respondents: Timeliness of appointment was frequently or very frequently a barrier to accessing health services
• 21% of respondents : Cost of appointment was frequently or very frequently a barrier to accessing health services
• 16% of respondents : Transport was frequently or very frequently a barrier to accessing health services
• 95% of respondents see a GP locally, but only 49% see a nurse locally
• 86% of respondents Agreed or Strongly Agreed that “the Government needs to act to improve health services”

Media enquiries: Lanie.Harris@cohealth.org.au or 0418 552 377

About cohealth: cohealth is a not-for-profit community health organisation that provides low-cost and free local health and support services including medical, dental, allied health, mental health, aged care and counselling, and many specialist health services across metropolitan Melbourne and the East Coast of Tasmania.

MEDIA RELEASE – 25 September 2023

cohealth joins community in Bicheno and Triabunna

Nationally renowned community health service, cohealth, will join the Tasmanian East Coast in October as the new operator of the East Coast Health Centre comprising Bicheno General Practice and Triabunna Medical Centre.

Glamorgan Spring Bay Council will officially transfer management of the two medical practices on 16 October to not-for-profit, cohealth, for a period of three years, with an option to extend a further two years.

Chief Executive, Nicole Bartholomeusz, says cohealth wants to help create healthier communities in Bicheno and Triabunna.

“We’re looking forward to combining our 50 years’ experience in delivering primary health care with the knowledge and expertise of local health practitioners,” says Ms Bartholomeusz.

“Our philosophy is ‘care for all’ and we believe everyone has the right to timely and accessible health services, regardless of where they live or their income.”

“Patients will still be able to see their regular GP, nurse or allied health professional, and over time we hope to introduce a greater range of services and better ways of working through team-based care.”

cohealth is an experienced, not-for-profit community health organisation with over 30 health centres in Victoria, and now two in Tasmania.

Learn more: cohealth.org.au/Tasmania

Do you live in the Glamorgan Spring Bay area? cohealth wants to hear your views on healthcare in the region. 

Complete our survey to help us understand what health services you currently access and how you think they could be improved.

The survey is anonymous and will take 10-15 minutes to complete. The survey is open until 27 October 2023.

This survey is part of a Primary Care Rural Innovative Multidisciplinary Models (PRIMM) project, which is being managed by cohealth.

cohealth is working with consumers and organisations on the East Coast of Tasmania to co-design a local, multidisciplinary, and team-based primary health care model for the community.

Complete the survey online: www.cohealth.org.au/tas-east-coast/ or phone Lis de Vries on 0423 798 800

Media enquiries: Lanie.Harris@cohealth.org.au or 0418 552 377
About cohealth: cohealth is a not-for-profit community health organisation that provides low-cost and free local health and support services including medical, dental, allied health, mental health, aged care and counselling, and many specialist health services across metropolitan Melbourne and the East Coast of Tasmania.

May Shaw Health Centre, Swansea

May Shaw Health Centre operates an Aged care facility & General practice at 37 Wellington Street, Swansea.

This facility provides a range of different services, Permanent Doctors, Dr Andrew Grove and Dr Camilla Byrne are engaged at the practice.

Aged Care – Phone: 03 6257 9100
Website: https://www.mayshaw.org.au/

The Swansea General Practice Phone: 03 6257 8205.