Published on Wednesday, 20 September 2023 at 9:09:02 AM
At the Ordinary Council Meeting on Tuesday 19 September 2023, Council considered and approved revisions to its Medical Services Agreement with Livingston Medical.
The update states Livingston Medical, rather than an individual doctor, as the provider of health services for the Shire of Ravensthorpe.
Council noted a Disclosure of Interest from Cr Rachel Livingston, who was not present for the duration of the consideration.
The variation to the agreement allows Dr Michael Livingston the flexibility to work outside the Shire, engage in rural generalist training, and maintain a local medical presence.
Livingston Medical has recently recruited five Rural Generalist doctors to their team as well as three more nurses, and they have expanded their practice to include surrounding Shires.
Dr Livingston said he will continue campaigning for better health services for people living in the country.
“I am so grateful to be able to do what I am passionate about, which is rural healthcare and training doctors in rural generalist medicine,” he said.
“Rachel and I have worked tirelessly to ensure more towns have medical services and we won't stop until the Government takes notice of the need for a change in policy and better healthcare for people in the bush.”
Ongoing care for patients
Pictured: Dr Michael Livingston of Livingston Medical.
Current patients of Dr Livingston in Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun will still have access to Telehealth appointments when he is not in the Shire of Ravensthorpe.
Patients will also have access to Dr Menon, who is based in Hopetoun and recently passed his exams in the top 10% cohort. A new medical practitioner, Dr Bahari, is commencing in January and will be based in Ravensthorpe.
Livingston Medical’s recruitment of a pool of doctors across the Great Southern and Wheatbelt will ensure residents have access to more services such as female health, emergency medicine, occupational health, skin cancer, surgical options, obstetrics, anaesthetics, mental health and more.
We are honoured to have spent eight years living and working in Ravensthorpe and we hope we can continue to service the area with the passion for medicine that the Shire deserves for many years to come,” Dr Livingston said.
"Great news for locals"
Shire President Cr Keith Dunlop said the update to the agreement was a positive outcome for residents.
“In addition to Dr Livingston, we’re now going to have a doctor based in Ravensthorpe and another based in Hopetoun,” he said.
“We’ll also have access to a pool of doctors who are being specifically trained for treating patients in the bush, this is great news for locals.”
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