When Keely Toms phoned her central Queensland GP clinic, she was told bookings were no longer being taken because the practice would close in three days.
"[The staff had] just been told, the lady sounded so upset and I don't blame her," she said.
"I was shocked."
Patients and staff were told on Tuesday the Toolooa Family Practice (TFP) would close on Friday after more than 15 years of serving the port city of Gladstone.
The clinic's closure is another blow for the regional centre which has also seen its private hospital closed in 2020 and its public maternity services on indefinite bypass since mid-2022.
On Thursday, state and territory leaders urged the federal government to fix what they called a "broken" GP system and vowed to make healthcare the top priority for this year's first national cabinet meeting.
Practices closing 'every week'
Australian Medical Association Queensland president Dr Maria Boulton said practices were closing "every week around the state".
"GPs can no longer afford to bulk-bill and the rising costs of running a business – rent, power bills, staff wages, insurance, accreditation and equipment – are making it harder to keep practice doors open," Dr Boulton said.
"We need urgent reform of Medicare and we need urgent measures to solve the regional workforce crisis."
The federal government established a Strengthening Medicare Taskforce in July 2022, which will recommend how best to spend a $750 million Strengthening Medicare Fund.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said in a press conference on Thursday that the system needed improvements.
"This is not going to be something we can fix in one budget, this is going to require a determined long-term effort," he said.
The ABC contacted TFP for comment.
Another bulk-bill practice gone
Gladstone mum Ms Toms has three daughters with ADHD, two of them live with an intellectual disability.
She had contacted the practice – which offered bulk-billed appointments – to access her daughters' medical records.
Ms Toms said she was told she could access the information once the family had found a new GP and completed transfer forms.
"This is stressful as it is so close to school time and not everyone works," Ms Toms said.
"Toolooa was the best practice for my family and they all will be missed from doctors, nurses, secretary and all staff."
Ms Toms has lived in Gladstone for 12 years and used TFP for about six years.
"It feels as though bulk-bill doctors are slowly becoming extinct," she said.
"It just feels like we are being forced to pay to see a doctor and most families are struggling with rent and food going up – stress levels are high."
Relocating to access health services
Another Gladstone mum, Sharna (whose full name has been withheld for privacy) said her GP had been a steady support through eight tumultuous years of health issues.
A social media post gave her the "shocking" news.
"Our doctor at Toolooa helped navigate and manage chronic health conditions for myself, numerous miscarriages and a high-risk pregnancy," she said.
Sharna said she started using the practice eight years ago when her previous doctor closed.
She said her doctor at TFP went "above and beyond" to care for her family after she had her health concerns dismissed by others.
"I spent years before that looking for a doctor and he has been an absolute godsend," she said.
"My fear is that when my son's going to have an issue, I'm going to have to fly out or find a way to get to Brisbane because there's nothing here."
With just a handful of clinics remaining in town, she said her family was considering relocation.
"In a town this big, we should have the services here," Sharna said.
"We should be able to go see our doctor when we need to."
'Big hit' for suffering community
Gladstone acting mayor Kahn Goodluck said TFP was one of only a few clinics that offered bulk-billing.
"That's going to be a big hit to many in our community that require that service," he said.
"It's going to put more pressure on the other practices that are still operating.
"We've got a huge demand for GP services and not enough doctors to be able to service our community as it is.
"It certainly highlights, once again, the need for focus from our state and federal governments on health access for regional communities like ours."
The system is 'broken'
Dr Boulton said the situation in central Queensland showed the system was past breaking point.
"The Gladstone Hospital maternity unit has been on bypass for the past six months and Rockhampton Hospital has lost three of its four specialist obstetricians," Dr Boulton said.
"We continue to advocate for both levels of government to urgently address the maldistribution of GPs and obstetricians across Queensland, as well as the dwindling numbers of trainee doctors choosing to specialise in general practice."
Gladstone State MP Glenn Butcher said he understood the situation was stressful.
"Any business closure in the Gladstone region is sad and I do hope the GPs who had been working at Toolooa will be able to use their knowledge and skills at other local practices," he said.
"I am doing everything I can to ensure birthing services are returned to Gladstone as soon as possible and I want to thank every community member who's met with me or reached out, to discuss the issue."
