Wheatbelt Health Network chief executive officer Dr Harry Randhawa and board chairman David Singe attended a recent Northam Shire Council Meeting, to warn councillors of the implications to the future of the Wheatbelt Health Network if more doctor surgeries and pharmacies were to open in the town.
At the meeting on June 21, Mr Singe said councillors should understand Northam's current medical situation before approving proposals and said their network could “go down” if further surgeries or pharmacies opened.
He specifically referenced the proposed medical centre, that was included in the Perdaman development application for the Northam Boulevard redevelopment and the pharmacy in the new shopping centre development on Wellington Street.
Mr Singe said Northam had 13 full-time general practitioners, which was almost twice the amount of what is needed for the town's population
We stand to lose a lot as a non-for-profit.
- Harry Randhawa
Shire president Steven Pollard said the Shire was guided by the Local Planning Scheme when making decision on planning matters.
He said there was a framework they work within and councillors were required to give consideration to when approving proposals.
Northam Shire chief executive officer Jason Whiteaker said the Shire did not play an ‘economic regulation’ role and did not make land use decisions based on profitability.
He said the role of Council was to consider each development on individual land use merits.
Following the meeting, Mr Randhawa said the financial position of the Wheatbelt Health Network is “solid” but if a new surgery opened in Northam, things could “go pear shaped – and relatively quickly”.
“We stand to lose a lot as a non-for-profit,” he said. “It’s easy for private sector people – they can wear the losses.”
Mr Randhawa said there was a possibility of losing all of their 50 staff. “If what is coming in (money) decreases, we go into reserves and a risk of failure.
“Only time will tell.”
There are three surgeries in Northam being the Wheatbelt Health Network, Northam Family Practice and Grey Street Surgery.