But after investing its own funds to recruit and train an additional four GPs in sexual and reproductive health, its place in the community has never been stronger.

It's a story that's etched into the fabric of Launceston's broader health service history, with the modest site on Wellington Street serving as the base of FPT's Northern services since 2002.

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On its opening day, then Scotch Oakburn student Rose Tilsley was among those who helped paint a colourful mural in the clinic's car park.

Today, she is the lead doctor of a team of GPs offering a diverse range of services for women and men of all ages and backgrounds.

"I was drawn here by an interest in access to good women's healthcare, for all women. But particularly women in need - the vulnerable women," she said. "There were always very well respected, experienced doctors working here.

"It's attracted a lot of people over the years, because we [GPs] have the time to focus on specific women's health problems.

"We also have a network of doctors where this is their interest, so [there's] a really good shared knowledge base."

FPT was established in the state's South in 1973, with just one employee providing medical and educational services.

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Today, it has clinics in Launceston, Burnie and Glenorchy, and operates as a mixed-billing clinic, with bulk-billed services available to those aged under 21, full-time students and those with a concession card.

According to its latest annual report, 39 per cent of FPT clients hold concession cards, while 38 per cent are young people. Of its priority population services, 59 per cent are from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, 11 per cent were born overseas and 6 per cent are Aboriginal.

Of the 13,121 clinic visits held ins 2019-20, the top three appointment reasons were contraception (35 per cent); STI related (17 per cent); and gynaecology (9 per cent). With services ranging from women's health, sexual and reproductive health, cervical screenings, STI tests, menopause, breast checks, contraception and medical pregnancy terminations - clinical services manager Jessica Willis said FTP filled many health service gaps.

"We are a not-for-profit organisation, so we are independent from the Department of Health. But we do get grants from them which helps us run our clinics," she explained.

"Which is fantastic, because otherwise it would be really difficult to cover all our costs. Unlike most GP practices, we actually pay our doctors by the hour, so they don't retain any of their Medicare billings.

"There are very few bulk-billing doctors or GPs in Launceston. So for people living on low incomes, there just aren't that many places for them to go. So there is a gap, for a key demographic, that is being filled by us."

Ms Willis joined FPT just over a year ago, as it - like many Tasmanian organisations - worked to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The Launceston team was also facing its own crisis with a doctor shortage, and less than half of its regular clinics in operation. But with demand for services at an all-time high, rather than perish, the Launceston team managed to flourish.

"There is quite a lot of demand for sexual reproductive health services in Northern Tasmania, particularly for men and women on low incomes," Ms Willis said.

"Everything was exacerbated by COVID and it made it harder to recruit people from the mainland. So we decided to invest our own funds into a big recruitment drive."

One of the challenges facing FPT in its the recruitment of new doctors was the need for additional qualifications in sexual and reproductive health. The involved process can take up to six months and requires weeks of study, exams and seven days of practical training.

However, with courses previously only available on the mainland moved online due to the pandemic, they were able to sponsor a number of Launceston-based doctors to complete the training requirements.

"It was somewhat of a silver lining. A real upside of COVID," Ms Willis said.

"Hopefully into the future it will remain the case that Tasmanian doctors will be able to do the course online, because I think we've always found it difficult to get people through the processes here in the North.

"Now we are in a relatively stable situation and are looking at which new services we can offer. How we reach out and engage with young people to let them know about Family Planning Tasmania."

The four new GPs to join the FPT Launceston team include Dr Claire Cugley, Dr Christine Kwok, Dr Tricia Siu and Dr Johanna Wilson.

Now operating at full capacity, with two doctor clinics operating every day from Monday to Friday, Ms Willis said without FTP in Launceston - many patients could have gone without.

"I think people often come to us when they haven't been able to get an answer or they haven't got the help they need from a GP who's not specialising," she said.

"If we hadn't gotten back to full capacity, I think lots of the patients we see wouldn't have gone elsewhere, for whatever it was they needed.

"So they wouldn't have had their STI test, they wouldn't have had a regular cervical screening test. Those, as examples, can lead to all kinds of long-term health issues."

FPT is also continuing to expand it services, including a new prolapse assessment and pessary fitting and management service.

"It's another example of us helping to fill a health service gap," Ms Willis explained.

"Because it's not a service provided by that many GPs and the waitlist at the public hospital to see someone to be assessed for prolapses can be up to six months."

With the mural she once helped paint still a feature of the Wellington Street clinic, Dr Tilsley said FPT had always provided a safe and welcoming environment for its patients.

"It's also a great way to see women throughout their life, at all the different stages," she said.

"I think it's that word of mouth, from the people who have experienced the really non-judgmental environment we have here, that's led to Family Planning's longevity.

"It's supportive and confidential. People feel really comfortable and have good experiences here. That's the feedback we get a lot."

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