WYEE residents are concerned their medical clinic has closed for the fourth time in five years because of a lack of doctors.
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Wyee Tristar Medical Clinic closed its doors indefinitely on Friday.
Internationally-trained doctor Muhammad Wadud had been the resident doctor at the clinic.
He was recently granted permanent residency, which affected his eligibility to practise medicine at Wyee.
A spokesperson from the Department of Health said Dr Wadud gained employment as an international doctor under a recruitment program and has been practising legally at all times.
"[The program] allowed special exemption for non-vocationally registered GPs to work in rural and remote areas, and in towns that were deemed to be a district of workforce shortage," the spokesperson said.
"Doctors like Dr Wadud are registered as general doctors but are not fully qualified GPs [general practitioners]," the spokesperson added.
"For Dr Wadud, now a permanent resident, to continue to work as a GP he must complete his training to become a fully qualified, vocationally registered general practitioner."
Wyee is also no longer classified as a district subject to workforce shortage despite the clinic's closure.
Blue Haven resident Bev Clout is a patient at the Wyee clinic and says patients are devastated.
"This affects so many people - Dr Wadud is such a good doctor and he genuinely cares about his patients' diagnosis," she said.
Most of the GPs in the area have closed their books and can't take on new patients, she said.
"We don't know where to go or what to do. We just feel absolutely helpless."
Patient Alan Eadie echoed Ms Clout's concerns.
"You can't get into any of the other surgeries," he said.
"They only thing we can do now is go to Wyong Hospital, which is already under a lot of strain."
Mr Eadie said it took up to three months to get a replacement doctor when the clinic was previously in this situation.
The Lakes Mail understands Dr Wadud will sit a final exam in May to become a fully qualified, vocationally registered GP.
The company that runs the Wyee clinic, Tristar Medical Group, was approached for comment but did not respond before deadline.
The Lakes Mail was told that the Tristar Medical Group has applied to the Department of Health to request that Dr Wadud be permitted to continue practising at Wyee but this may take up to 28 days to process.
A sign on the clinic's front door directs patients to Tristar's Morisset clinic.
Federal Member for Charlton Pat Conroy said: "I'm disappointed that Wyee has been left without a doctor, and I have urged Tristar Medical Group to make urgent arrangements for another GP in their clinic."
He said it was important that Wyee "attract and retain health care services" and that it not be done "in an ad-hoc way".
"The community in Wyee deserves a full-time doctor, and I will be liaising with Medicare and the health minister's office to advocate the transfer of a doctor to this clinic."
State Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper said his office had received emails from residents who were concerned about Dr Wadud's departure.
"The most important thing is that Wyee not be left without a practising GP. The residents should not have the inconvenience and expense of having to travel out of town simply to see a doctor," Mr Piper said.