Shire of Northampton approves MediBloom Group request for financial assistance to run town’s doctors surgery

The Shire of Northampton will provide up to $600 a week in travel assistance for doctors travelling from Kalbarri to Northampton to ensure the operation of the town’s doctor’s surgery remains viable. Private company MediBloom Group submitted an urgent request for travel financial assistance to the Shire of Northampton, indicating the Northampton Doctors Surgery could close permanently if the company didn’t receive help by July 2023. On July 21 the council voted to provide up to $600 per week, paid on receipt and invoice proving travel had occurred. The contribution to maintain the Northampton Doctors Surgery will be paid as a show of goodwill until the Shire is in a better position to assess the situation. The cost to ratepayers was weighed against the impact of not having a doctor’s surgery in a country town and its potential impacts to its reputation and on the community who have difficulty travelling for medical appointments. Funding may be sourced from additional money received from the rate increases, yet to be set by council, in the 2023-24 budget, that will futureproof health services in the district. Currently travel claims to the MediBloom Group are between $300 and $600 per week.