{"id":359309,"date":"2025-04-07T15:07:38","date_gmt":"2025-04-07T05:07:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=359309"},"modified":"2025-04-07T15:10:13","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T05:10:13","slug":"trial-to-improve-access-to-doctors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2025\/04\/07\/trial-to-improve-access-to-doctors\/","title":{"rendered":"Trial To Improve Access To Doctors"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Back row, from left, Dr Jeremy Jones and Darling Downs Health Director Medical Services South Burnett Dr Liam Weber; front row, Dr Anthony Pass, Dr Thanuka Wijegunarathe and Taabinga Family Practice’s Dr Emma Leu-Marshall (Photo: DDH)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

April 7, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

A new partnership between Kingaroy Hospital, local GPs and the South Burnett Regional Council aims to improve access to primary healthcare and reduce visits to hospital emergency departments.<\/p>\n

A “Single Employer Model” trial has begun which means doctors can now be employed at Darling Downs Health hospitals as well as work at local GP clinics.<\/p>\n

The trial is being jointly funded by the Federal and State governments.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe rolled out a similar model at Dalby Hospital last year and it was really successful. We also have a pilot site in Warwick which has done well. This model at Kingaroy is just building on to that original success,\u201d DDH Director Medical Services South Burnett Dr Liam Weber said.<\/p>\n

The trial has already attracted six new GP registrars to Kingaroy this year, with one more sharing their time between Kingaroy and Kilcoy.<\/p>\n

Dr Thanuka Wijegunaratne, a rural generalist registrar at Taabinga Family Practice, is employed through Darling Downs Health. He works part-time at the Kingaroy Hospital and part-time at the Taabinga surgery.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr Wijegunaratne said the collaborative model had been a win-win for the Kingaroy community and doctors.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Single Employer Model helps with my training, it allows me to understand the community needs and the health needs, and at the same time it helps the Kingaroy Hospital and the South Burnett community,\u201d Dr Wijegunaratne said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI also get to see some patients in the hospital and if I want to follow up, I can follow up with them in the general practice clinic. That way the continuity of care is there, and the patient can really benefit from one clinician following them throughout their whole journey.\u201d<\/p>\n