Narromine Shire Family Health Centre practice manager Wendy Harding said the centre had been looking for a new permanent doctor since the end of last year, as Dr Robert Kirkby will semi-retire in January 2009.

“If we get to January and Dr Kirkby retires, Dr Wright physically would not be able to cope with the workload,” she said.

“You pay locums $1500 a day and you still can’t get them to come out here - getting a permanent doctor is even harder.”

The centre is in the process of attaining an Area of Need status, which would allow them to employ doctors trained overseas, but before they can work here they need to obtain the appropriate visas, pass an English exam as well as pass practical and theory exams from the Australian Medical Council.

“All this process takes a very long time,” said Mrs Harding.

“We’ve also got to find the time to give them an interview.

“It would be quicker to get a recruitment agency to do it for us.”

Doctors Kirkby and Wright recently approached Narromine Shire Council to fund the use of a recruitment company, with the initial estimate of $19,000.

“We need some more options because time is

running out,” Mrs Harding said.

“They are a professional recruitment agency so the process is much quicker as they already have listed doctors.

“In the meantime if we are granted Area of Need status and the Rural Doctors come forward with a doctor then we’ll use that.”

Narromine Shire Council general manager Ian Rogan said the council wants to work with the medical centre in finding a new permanent doctor.

“Council doesn’t rule out providing assistance, but encourages the medical practice to continue to investigate other options fully before making a decision on financial assistance with recruitment,” he said.

Mrs Harding said Narromine had fantastic facilities and was a great place.

“The shires initiative to have built the surgery in

the first place will hopefully

guarantee that we can attract a doctor to the area,” she said.