Take action, Minlaton health services are at risk

Rachel Hagan, Yorke Peninsula Country Times

Minlaton Family Centre is moving towards becoming the wellbeing hub of the lower Yorke Peninsula.

However, these dreams may fall short if the community does not start using the new health services already available.

Currently, the family centre hosts general practitioner Gaurang Prajapati and dietitian Bonnie Sanderson, who are currently not being utilised to their full capacity.

Doctor Prajapati said he knows how desperate regional people were for more services, and if his bookings increased, his practice CanMed would also increase its hours from just one day per week.

CanMed is in Minlaton as part of a trial, and Dr Prajapati said, if his service was not utilised, he unfortunately would need to take it somewhere where it is more needed.

“I realised there’s a big need for country patients because they have to rely on these telehealth providers, which can be dodgy,” Dr Prajapati said.

About 10 years ago, Dr Prajapati began his training in the regions, which caused him to jump at the opportunity to work in Minlaton, when it came across his desk.

“Some of the patients I have been seeing have been suffering for a long time,” he said.

Dr Prajapati specialises in pain management and regularly treats people who are suffering from chronic pain, often with medically prescribed cannabis. 

Use it or you may lose it

In the beginning, Dr Prajapati said he had to be convinced cannabis was an appropriate choice for his patients, but after much research he found it was one of the best options.

“The stigma is there because people have been using and sometimes misusing it recreationally,” he said.

“But like anything, just like simple Panadol, if you take too much it is going to cause you harm.”

However, a GP is not able to fix all the lower Yorke’s needs, and other specialists are desperately required to fill in the gaps a GP cannot.

Local dietitian Bonnie Sanderson, who specialises in diabetes, is excited to be working in the same facility as Dr Prajapati, and said it was a big win for her clients to have two health professionals in the same location.

“Having a GP to be able to talk through alternative methods in terms of treating mental health, but also looking at ways of pain relief for someone who has diabetes related complications is super amazing,” Ms Sanderson said.

“I can’t do everything, and to be able to have an exercise physiologist, an occupational therapist, doctor or a psychologist… it makes it work for the patients and they will have one less stop, plus a team working behind them.”

Yorke Peninsula Learning and Care community services manager James Wagner said it was difficult to comment on what the future holds, but he was actively working with partners to explore more opportunities and, if demand increased, it was likely services would too.

“We are deeply committed to listening to our community and addressing areas of need across the lower YP,” Mr Wagner said.

“This is not just about filling gaps in services but creating a future where local people can access critical supports without the barriers of distance, cost or complexity.”

SOS Yorkes suicide prevention has partnered with the centre to hold mental health first aid workshops in early 2025.

Mr Wagner said the partnership with SOS Yorkes was a perfect fit for what the centre was trying to achieve around wellbeing and he was excited to be creating a brighter future with the group.

“The Minlaton Family Centre is designed to be a versatile and inclusive space… these spaces can be hired for a wide range of purposes that contribute to community betterment — including social groups, workshops and training sessions,” he said. 

This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 26 November 2024.