Katanning’s St Luke’s Family Practice completes team with a trio of new doctors after battling WA regional GP shortage

Katanning’s biggest doctors’ surgery has a complete team for the first time in more than a year, having welcomed a diverse trio of doctors since February. St Luke’s Family Practice manager Claire Fleming said after a long, hard battle against the GP shortage gripping regional WA, the team was finally out of the woods. “We are still here. After all the long, hard years it has paid off and we’ve got some really lovely doctors who are all living in our town,” she said, “We want everyone to make them welcome.” With the addition of three new doctors who have trained across the country and overseas, the team can now open its Kojonup practice four days a week, with plans to open up full-time within two months. “The other exciting part is our two new female doctors are credentialed to work in the hospital, which means they can help fill gaps and assist with the on-call roster,” Ms Fleming said. Questioning in the WA Parliament in May revealed Katanning’s emergency department had no doctor available to be rostered for 24 separate 12-hour shifts between July 2019 and March 2020. However, WA Health Minister Roger Cook said Katanning’s medical coverage had improved “four-fold” in the past financial year. Ms Fleming said the team had been working since 2018 to fill gaps in their rosters and had dedicated resources to getting more doctors on the ground. The team has three female doctors and staff from South Africa, Ukraine, Russia and Pakistan. After two years of preparation, one of St Luke’s newest additions, Dr Shapi Mukiapini, finally made the move with his wife, a nurse, and three children in January from their South African home. Dr Mukiapini arrived in Katanning at a time when St Luke’s doctors were stretched to their limits, with most patients shared between just two doctors. “I thought why not make an impact on the life of this community,” he said. After 18 years in emergency medicine, Dr Mukiapini has endured a frustrating wait to gain his Australian qualifications to jump in at Katanning’s hospital. “I am ready, but I am just waiting for a piece of paper,” he said. He said his family was settled into country life and he was happy to call the multicultural town of Katanning home. “My plan is to live here long term, we have received a very warm welcome,” he said. The surgery has also wel-comed Dr Emmon Mubbashir and Dr Yuliya Novystka this year.