Moura's only doctor leaves, stranding 2,000 people without a GP
Moura's only permanent doctor is leaving, leaving 2,000 people without local medical care.
Moura, a rural Queensland town of about 2,000 people, is losing its only permanent doctor this week. A single GP has worked at both the medical centre and hospital, with occasional temporary support.
Health advocates warned for months the workload could not continue and urged the hospital service to bring in more temporary doctors, but those calls went unanswered. Marie Cherry is 82 and has incurable breast cancer.
She has lived in Moura for more than 50 years. She said losing local medical care terrifies her.
The Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service says it is actively recruiting. It will continue using temporary doctors while permanent positions are filled.
- 2,000 people
- Population without a GP
- 2 hours from Rockhampton
- Distance to nearest major centre
- 82 years old
- Marie Cherry's age
- 13 years
- Years of advocacy by Elliott
Why it mattersRural patients with serious illnesses face delays and long travel if they cannot see a local doctor.
AustraliaMoura residents must now travel two hours to Rockhampton for urgent care, creating real hardship for elderly and chronically ill people in a small regional town.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
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