4pm: In a letter circulated to patients, the Seaport centre said the practice closed due to the founding doctors having recently announced their departures.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
“The Practice, including Dr Imran Aslam, Dr Caroline Stewart and Seaport’s management team will be relocating to the Kings Meadows Family Doctor Service,” the letter said.
“As a patient, you have the opportunity to continue treatment with these doctors or any of the current doctors at the Kings Meadows Family Doctor Service who will have access to your medical records.
“If you choose to transfer to another Practice, the staff at Kings Meadows Family Doctor Service will happily transfer your records upon request.”
1.30pm: The Launceston Health Hub will launch the Launceston Diabetes Clinic on Monday March 6.
The clinic will be led by GP Dr Kilov, joined by dietitian Erin Jackson, psychologist Lesley Osenieks, exercise physiologist Marlene Lovell and diabetes educator Sam Beattie.
Existing patients of Dr Kilov and the Seaport Diabetes Clinic will have their files transferred to the Launceston Medical Centre on request from the Kings Meadows Family Doctor Service.
The Launceston Health Hub phase three building project is due for completion in April 2017 and will include 72 car spaces.
For further updates on the new service please consult the Launceston Medical Centre Facebook page or contact 6388 8111.
1pm: Doctor Gary Kilov, who is the co-founder of the Seaport practice, could not provide details as to why it was closing.
“I’m not privy to the details of why the service has terminated, and particularly … in such a manner,” Dr Kilov said.
Dr Kilov does not own the practice, and said ownership of the practice was transferred about 18 months ago, he said.
He said he was just as surprised by the closure as others.
Patients have said they did not know about the closure until today.
Dr Kilov confirmed most clinical practitioners and some nursing and administrative staff would move to the Wellington Street space.
He said there were doctors, allied health staff and administration staff at the Seaport practice.
“I suspect most of the team here will move to the Launceston Medical Centre [where the hub is],” Dr Kilov said.
Dr Kilov said patients could seek information on having their records transferred from Kings Meadows Family Doctor Service at their new practice, whether it be the Health Hub or not.
“[I’d like] to thank everybody who has been so wonderfully supportive of the Seaport practice, express my regrets, but just to assure everyone a new phase is occurring and patients should be assured continuity of their medical care will occur where ever they choose to follow it,” he said.
11am: It is understood some staff members of the Seaport Practice will relocate to the Health Hub on Wellington Street.
A dietician and a psychologist from the practice assured clients they would be accessible at the hub in Facebook announcements.
The Seaport clinic was opened in late 2011.
EARLIER: Seaport Medical Healthcare Centre will cease operation on Friday.
The closure has come unexpectedly and suddenly.
It is understood the practice will merge its patient records with the Kings Meadows Family Doctor Service, but patients can request their records go to their new doctors.
MORE TO COME