BULAHDELAH is urgently seeking a full-time doctor after news that long-time, solo GP, who went on sick leave four months ago, will not return to work for at least another three months.
The Bulahdelah and District Health Committee has organised a community meeting set to be held at Bulahdelah Bowling Club on February 14 between 6pm and 7pm to inform the community where it is up to with recruiting a doctor.
Bulahdelah Chamber of Commerce president and committee member Brian Ede said the Rural Doctors Network was planning series of advertisments and putting forward a package to entice doctors to come to the area.
"There are 280 odd vacancies for doctors and Bulahdelah is on that list," Mr Ede said.
Bob Baldwin, Member for Paterson said while doctors from Nabiac, Tea Gardens and Taree had been doing what they could to help, it was time the federal government stepped in to ensure a permanent service.
"I have met with the community over this issue and residents are extremely stressed about the situation, which needs to be resolved as soon as possible," Mr Baldwin said.
Mr Baldwin said that now was the time when a number of newly qualified doctors were looking for new year placements making it a good time to recruit a GP.
Mr Ede said it has been a long, hard process and the community wished Dr Habashy all the best and a speedy recovery.
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