news, local-news,

Health Minister Michael Ferguson has been silent on the possibility that cardiologist Dr Geoff Evans may leave his three-day-a-week practice on the North-West Coast. Mr Ferguson came under fire in parliament recently over his department’s reliance on locums, because it could not attract and retain permanent specialist staff in the North-West. Dr Geoff Evans, head of Charles Clinic Heart Care in Launceston, is reported as saying he was seriously considering closing his clinic at the North West Regional Hospital precinct. He said nbn co could not guarantee the internet speeds his practice needed, even after the company had installed a new node about 500 metres from the clinic. When asked for comment about the possible loss of another specialist from the North-West Coast, Mr Ferguson said his office had been in contact with nbn co, to advocate on Dr Evans’ behalf. He said nbn co was “working with Dr Evans to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.” However the news of Dr Evans’ dilemma has alarmed Federal MP Justine Keay. “The North-West Coast will potentially pay a heavy price for Malcolm Turnbull’s inferior NBn,” she said. “The NBN should have been a tool to support the health and education sectors.” “Malcolm Turnbull promised the NBN would be rolled out sooner, cheaper and more affordably. “He also promised download speeds between 25 and 100 mbs, with the rollout completed by the end of 2016. “On all counts he has failed, and the consequence is the potential loss of Charles Clinic Heart Care from our region,” she said. “Malcolm Turnbull has completely botched the roll out of the NBN.” She also noted that Mitch Fifield, Federal Minister for Communications, had failed to comment or respond to Dr Evans’ predicament at the time of writing.

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/33SfCj2iYNyka6LHnSafGpc/9cfac875-66df-4fe2-98dd-8dea9d85da69.JPG/r13_261_4882_3012_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg