Doctors from the Medical Clinic Millicent will not be treating any new residents admitted to the Sheoak Lodge aged care facility attached to Millicent Hospital.

Medical care will continue to be provided by clinic doctors to existing residents at the 60-bed facility as well as any future residents who are currently clients of the clinic practice in Short Street.

The association between the clinic and Sheoak Lodge has been consistently maintained since the purpose-built aged care facility opened in 1996.

Sheoak Lodge draws its residents from across the region and beyond.

Medical Clinic Millicent practice manager Bronwyn Barker said Sheoak Lodge residents have been advised of the latest situation.

“This decision has been made as there is not enough staff,” Ms Barker said.

She said the clinic was also currently in dispute with SA Health over the doctors’ accreditation requirements set by this State Government agency.

According to the clinic website, the practice currently has seven GPs.

This is half the record number of doctors who staffed the Medical Clinic Millicent around 15 years ago.

Meanwhile, Millicent Hospital is now into its seventh consecutive year of having all inpatient, on-call, accident and emergency services provided by locums.

The Medical Clinic Millicent had progressively scaled back its involvement with these hospital departments due to a lack of doctors and withdrew altogether in February, 2016.

SA Health was approached for comment by The SE Voice with a spokesperson for the Limestone Coast Local Health Network providing a written statement.

“We would like to assure the community that medical services will continue at Sheoak Lodge, and we remain committed to safe, quality care for our residents,” the spokesperson said.

“To date, general practitioners from the Medical Clinic Millicent have provided in-residence care at Sheoak Lodge.

“This practice has indicated they will not undergo mandatory credentialing, meaning they will no longer be able to provide this service to the Limestone Coast Local Health Network.

“We will work directly with families to provide alternative, in-residence medical care to ensure our residents continue to receive their care from qualified and credentialled medical practitioners.

“The LCLHN is continuing to work closely with the Medical Clinic Millicent to find a resolution and we are continuing to seek advice on a way forward to best meet the needs of our patients and community.

“Credentialing is a policy that ensures appropriately training medical practitioners provide care in public facilities and that practitioners have maintained their qualifications, skills and competencies.

“All medical professionals across Australia have to be credentialed if they provide care in a public health facility.

“In South Australia, credentialing occurs every three years.”