The western Wimmera town of Kaniva looks set to lose its only doctor when its GP leaves at the end of the year.

The Wimmera Mail Times reports deep concerns that local medical services will be centralised at Nhill. Local resident Betty Goodwin worries:

“We are an ageing population, people can’t just get in the car and drive when they get too old. We were promised a dentist here five years ago; nothing ever happened and the surgery has just closed. The feeling is that this might happen again.”

But it isn’t just those in need of medical services who would be affected. Without a doctor the economy of a small town faces significant flow-on effects that make it even tougher for traders and residents as young families choose to stay close to emergency care.

This is exactly the problems our Country Doctors Policy addresses. A Baillieu government will provide $48 million to support immediate recruitment of new doctors as well as medical scholarships to train doctors for country Victoria. We will also provide financial support through our $12 million Practice Support Fund for extended hours, locum services and other services that will aid country doctors who have been so neglected over the previous 7 years of the Bracks Labor Government.

Only the Liberal Party has a plan to address the rural doctor crisis in Victoria