Doctor takes up surgery offer
A new private medical practice could be operating in Katanning within months after a local doctor took up an incentive to set up a new doctor’s surgery.
The project could also be an important step in getting the Katanning hospital’s maternity ward re-opened.
A vacant building at 58 Clive Street will be converted into the new general practice of Dr Peter Lotter, thanks to $30,000 funding from the Shire of Katanning.
The Shire made the money available in an effort to attract a new doctor to set up practice in the town.
Dr Lotter, who has been living and working in Katanning for about 15 years, approached the Shire two months ago after hearing about the funding.
“I know the patients, they know me, it is worthwhile for Katanning to get someone from within the town to open a practice,” he said.
“I think it is great that the Shire is doing something about it.”
The $30,000 will be spent on repairs and renovations to the Clive Street building to make it suitable for a private practice.
For the past three years Dr Lotter has been doing mostly anaesthetics for visiting specialists and working in accident and emergency at Katanning District Hospital.
Dr Lotter said one of the driving forces in his decision to open his own private practice was the need to reopen the hospital’s maternity ward.
“The most important thing is to get the ward back open,” he said. “It is going to be a challenge.
“Employing a doctor from overseas is also difficult as obtaining prerequisites for obstetrics is harder today.”
Acting Shire chief executive Andrew Holden said council wished Dr Lotter well in his practice and hoped it would lead to more doctors coming to the town.
“The best prospect for us is to attract a GP that could then attract qualified doctors,” he said.
Dr Lotter hopes enough doctors qualified in obstetrics can eventually be recruited to create a rotating roster which could re-open the hospital’s maternity ward.
