Dr. Chris Webster's country practice, Leongatha Healthcare, has closed its Koonwarra Road location due to financial difficulties. Dr. Webster plans to reopen a new practice as a sole doctor in a different building in Leongatha within weeks, retaining ownership with his wife.
Background to Closure
Dr. Webster stated that it became unviable to operate his clinic on a large scale after the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) removed his right to supervise other doctors. This regulatory action reportedly led some doctors at his clinic to reduce their working hours, rendering consultation rooms unused. The RACGP did not comment on Dr. Webster's case, citing privacy, but confirmed that general practitioners with conditions on their medical registration cannot supervise doctors in training.
Dr. Webster attributes the situation to the Medical Board of Australia, which imposed conditions on his registration in September. These conditions require him to complete a minimum of eight hours of one-on-one professional and ethics training and undertake mentoring sessions.
Connection to Erin Patterson Case
The closure follows events two and a half years after Dr. Webster alerted police to Erin Patterson. On July 31, 2023, Dr. Webster spoke with Patterson at Leongatha Hospital when she presented with gastro-like symptoms. He contacted emergency services after she discharged herself rapidly, initiating an investigation into a deadly lunch that resulted in three fatalities.
Dr. Webster acknowledged that the events following that hospital shift were challenging but stated that community support has been instrumental. All clinic staff will receive their entitlements, and patients were informed of the closure. Dr. Webster expects to resume practice within approximately three weeks.
Erin Patterson was sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 33 years for the murders of Heather Wilkinson, Don Patterson, and Gail Patterson, and the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson.