In a welcome turn of events, Pinjarra Doctors received an exemption to take on more GP registrars in 2022.
The clinic has been providing care to thousands of patients since 2010 but 11 years on from its opening, Pinjarra Doctors lost 700 appointments weekly due to a federal government policy.
A decision in 2019 to rezone the Peel region as outer-metropolitan, instead of rural, has made it near-impossible for GP practices to attract and retain doctors.
When the Mail first spoke to managing director Ms Pillay in early June she said the clinic would be down to two full-time GPs at the end of the year without an exemption to the policy.
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However, Pinjarra Doctors including the Peel catchment got the much sought-after extension to take on new registrars in 2022 giving staff and patients a bit of reprieve for another year.
"We have received a further extension to end in 2022 with an automatic 19AB exemption for those fellowing in 2022, further to that there is a promise of an incentive package being put together to make it attractive to recruit unrestricted doctors to work in the Peel region," Ms Pillay said.
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It was a sigh of relief for Ms Pillay and the principal doctors when they received the extension, however, Pinjarra Doctors isn't out of the woods yet.
"As we struggle on with just 3.5 full-time doctors till we can increase that quota the remaining doctors will be soldiering on to keep the service going," Ms Pillay said.
"The portal was open since the announcement was made last week but I am waiting for applications from registrars to come in.
