Radio Doctor Illawarra and Illawarra-Shoalhaven Medicare Local officially launched the after hours’ home doctor service for residents living in the Kiama local government area. 

More than 20,000 people from throughout the LGA will be able to access the service, following funding from Illawarra-Shoalhaven Medicare Local announced on Thursday. 

The service operates now operates from Scarborough to Gerroa, seven days a week and on all public holidays. 

Radio Doctor Illawarra is a not-for-profit, accredited, GP-member based co-operative. 

It is a bulk-billed service available to Medicare card holders.

A radio doctor base has been established in Albion Park Rail to service the southern Illawarra.

Dianne Kitcher, chief executive officer of Illawarra-Shoalhaven Medicare Local said the expansion is a significant announcement.

“There has long been a need to increase access to an after hours’ service for Kiama residents and in turn, ease the pressure on local hospitals and GPs,” Ms Kitcher said.

“We are delighted to be able to facilitate the expansion into the area and continue to support the great work that Radio Doctor has been doing in providing critical after hours health care to Illawarra residents for more than 40 years.”

The service currently receives approximately 18,000 calls per year via its Wollongong-based call centre, the majority from parents of young children or the elderly. 

Radio Doctor Illawarra do not prescribe S8 drugs or care for cuts or wounds, and will advise if a hospital visit is necessary.

The service provides a follow-up report to a patient’s regular GP, if the regular GP is a member of Radio Doctor Illawarra.

Dr David Grant of Kiama Medical Practice said it afforded a better lifestyle for local GPs.

‘‘It also lets us concentrate better on delivering the services we need to deliver during the day in a much fresher state. 

‘‘It enables some of the older practitioners like myself to go a lot longer.

‘‘(It helps) tourists in particular because we had to restrict ourselves to just dealing with patients from our practice, and from the other practice at Gerringong that we were sharing after hours with, because we just weren’t able to cope with really too much getting up after midnight and things like that, or visiting things like that.’’

Frank Wallner, general manager of Radio Doctor Illawarra said it would mean less travel and greater convenience for many. 

‘‘Kiama has a lot of older residents, an ageing population, and it’s often difficult for them to get out in the middle of the night. 

‘‘They don’t have transport to get out in the middle of the night and decide they have to call an ambulance. 

‘‘So potentially this can relieve pressure on our emergency services.’’

Mr Wallner said Kiama and Gerringong GPs had been supportive of the expansion, with many already signed up to be members.