Rodney Stevens

Wait times of up to a month to see a doctor in the Lower Clarence will soon be eased when Yamba Doctors opens its new Treelands Drive practice early in 2023.

Yamba Doctors Practice Manager Casey Srianandarajah, who grew up in the Lower Clarence, and her GP husband, Dr Vysalan (Dr Vy) said they are excited to open their new business to help locals.

With her parents and many other family members living in Yamba and the Lower Clarence, Mrs Srianandarajah said they were acutely aware of the region’s doctor shortage.

After their daughter was born in Sydney during the Covid pandemic isolation period, Mrs Srianandarajah said the couple decided they wanted to be closer to family.

Having previously bought a house in Yamba as an investment property made the transition easier, and after Dr Vy had worked as a GP at a Bondi Junction practice for almost six-years they were ready for a change.

“We decided let’s have a sea change, let’s move to Yamba,” she said.

“My daughter and I moved to Yamba when she was six months, and now, one year later, Vy is still living in Sydney for work and commuting to visit us. 

“So we found a space to buy, so we bought it and we’ve been communicating with builders and with the council to get the fit out completed, which is about 70 per-cent done.”

Yamba Doctors new premises are at 8 Treelands Drive, opposite Yamba Fair, near Aloha Sushi and Jennaration Hair and Beauty.

“It doesn’t look like a huge space when you’re looking at it, but it goes back about three times the length of the other premises along there, so it’s got a lot of space,” she said.

“We’ve got a big treatment room, a few consult rooms, a staff room, reception…it’s beautifully designed with lovely bright colours and we just wanted to create a space that people feel really happy in, to come to the doctor.”

To help ease the burden on Maclean Hospital, Yamba Doctors are creating a system where a few appointments will be available each day for people with kids and for things that you have to get seen to that day.

“When we open the doors, I’ll be working as the Practice Manager, which is a change from being a clinician as a dietician, my husband Vy will be the doctor and we are hopeful of getting another doctor to come in soon,” she said.

“At the moment we are looking for reception staff and we are looking for a nurse as well.

“We’ve had an overwhelming response, every time you mention it to anyone, they say you’ll be busy straight away.”

Born and bred in Sydney, Dr Vy attended the University of Western Sydney, trained in hospitals all over Sydney and has been working as a GP in the eastern suburbs for the past six years.

The website www.yambadoctors.com.au is under construction and will go live in the next few weeks.

“We’re hoping to be open by mid-January,” Mrs Srianandarajah said.