An eye specialist with a waiting list of 100 patients will no longer service the Portland community due to frustrations with the hospital’s board.

Key points:

  • Ophthalmologist Robert Harvey will no longer service Portland, in regional Victoria, after his request to become a visiting medical officer was denied
  • He says he has a waiting list of 100 patients, who will have to travel to Mount Gambier or Warrnambool to see an eye specialist 
  • The Portland District Hospital says negotiations around Dr Harvey’s contract are confidential 

Ophthalmologist Robert Harvey has worked in south west Victoria and south east South Australia since 2013.

Now aged 69, he said he had requested to change from a salaried position with Portland District Health to become a visiting medical officer (VMO), but the board denied this request.

The change would have allowed Dr Harvey to practise from rooms outside Portland’s hospital, although he would still perform surgery there.  

“Right across rural Australia … ophthalmologists are VMOs,” Dr Harvey said.

Dr Harvey says becoming a VMO would have made “no difference” to the patients. (Supplied: Robert Harvey)

“Patients would have the same level of service.

“I don’t think they’re going to be able to find a replacement for me.

Portland District Health said it had accepted Dr Harvey’s resignation and wished him well for the future. 

“This resignation does mean there is a likelihood for disruption or delays … whilst changes are implemented,” a spokesperson said in a statement. 

“Any community members who may have a referral or an upcoming appointment that may be affected by these changed will be contacted by a staff member in due course.”

Patients face 100km drives

Dr Harvey said he was starting to tell his patients to look elsewhere for their ongoing eye appointments.

“There are over 100 patients on my waiting list for surgery,” he said.

“There are lots of people with potentially blinding conditions like glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, which require regular injections.

Portland District Health will be without an ophthalmologist from April 1.(Supplied)

“It’s just a shame for the local community.”

He said he would continue working as a VMO in Mount Gambier, more than 100 kilometres from Portland, on the South Australian side of the border.

“I’m not sure where they’re going to go because it would mean travel to Warrnambool or Mount Gambier.

“If they come to Mount Gambier, I’m happy to service them but there’s going to be an additional wait for surgery, probably.”

Dr Harvey says he has more than 100 patients on his waiting list for surgery. (Supplied: Robert Harvey)

‘I can’t work forever’

Dr Harvey said he was hoping to find a “successor” to take over the busy role in the border regions.

“I can’t work forever,” he said.

“I can carry on working whilst my health is good for a few more years, but time is limited.