Two weeks after the announcement that RaRMS would be withdrawing from their medical practices in Warren and Gilgandra, Warren has made progress in securing the future of the only practice in town.

Rural and Remote Medical Services (RaRMS) - a charity that delivers health and GP services to local communities - has slowly announced closures across the Western Plains since early 2022, with Warren and Gilgandra the most recent locations on the growing list. 

While Gilgandra has other practices in town to support the community - and even then businesses are lining up to save the endangered practice - the Warren Family Health Centre is the only General Practitioner based in town. 

Warren Shire Council General Manager Gary Woodman said that since the announcement, council has been in discussions seeking other providers to assume the management of the service. 

“We’re holding discussions with at least five providers, plus the local health district, the primary health network and the regional doctors network,” Mr Woodman said. 

“The Warren Health Action Committee is working with us to reassure everyone including the current doctors,” he said. 

Despite several expressions of interest from providers, Mr Woodman said that the Western NSW Local Health District is also instrumental in ongoing discussions. 

“We’ve started making moves with the Local Health District because they’re the fallback position,” he said. 

Council has obtained a commitment from RaRMS Health that all medical records and equipment will be handed over to either Council or a new service provider, as well as a commitment that if Council is in serious negotiations with an interested party, RaRMS will extend the provision of its general practice service until the new service provider has commenced. 

Confirmation of the surgery’s future is expected in the coming weeks. 

“This week, several of those five are meeting with the doctors and the staff have been obtaining more information financially and staff profile-wise, to help make the decision about whether it’s worthwhile for them to take over,” Mr Woodman said. 

Council has assured it is doing everything in its power to secure a suitable health service for the Warren Shire Community.