By Michael Sinclair-Jones
MAINTENANCE repairs to the Alma Beard Medical Centre (pictured right) have delayed its re-opening until at least the middle of this month.
A new doctor has signed a five-year contract with the Shire of Toodyay to resume local GP services after the centre’s shock closure five-month ago.
However, the keys won’t be handed over until repairs are completed.
The practice will be run by Dr Akeem Lawal, who previously worked in Toodyay for the Wheatbelt Health Network.
The network, which is based in Northam, blamed rising costs for its decision to shut the medical centre last November, leaving Toodyay residents with no local doctors.
It also left Toodyay with no pathology or physiotherapy services.
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The shire’s new contract with Dr Lawal includes a resumption of ancillary medical services delivered by other health providers.
Toodyay Shire CEO Suzie Haslehurst said a lease for the premises would be signed and the keys handed over when interior repairs were completed.
This included patching holes, gouges and chips in plaster walls and on passageway corners, re-painting damaged areas and checks on electrical wiring and plumbing.
It was understood at the time of publication that this would take at least another two weeks from the start of May because of the amount of work involved.
Much of the centre’s furnishings, including chairs and beds, are already in place.
Ms Haslehurst said the shire was installing a new computer server to connect existing workstations, printers and other equipment.
Dr Lawal, who will engage his own computer specialist to link the equipment and connect it to the internet, was unable to be contacted by The Herald for comment.
However, Ms Haslehurst said Dr Lawal had told the shire that he wanted to make the medical centre a “more inviting space” for local patients.
