‘Frustrated’ doctor leaves Cobar
Wednesday April 22, 2009
Dr Nicolae Mohanu, pictured with Cobar Primary Health Care Centre practice manager Bernice Martin, has left Cobar after finishing practising on Friday, citing frustration as the main reason for his departure.
Cobar last week lost the services of another doctor with Dr Nicolae Mohanu citing his “frustration” with a “political struggle in the community” as his main reason for ceasing practice in Cobar.
“When I first came to Cobar I was open minded as to how long I would stay.
“I never made the claim that I would stay for a long term, I wanted to take my time to determine the length of time that I would stay,” Dr Mohanu said in an interview last week.
Dr Mohanu, along with his wife who is a nurse, started working at the Cobar Primary Health Care Centre in February after practising in Lightning Ridge for five years.
“I thought that Cobar was a very civilised town compared to Lightning Ridge and we would be here for a longer term.
“I like the outback and going four-wheel driving.”
He said soon after his arrival it became apparent to him that there was underlying tension and problems with the delivery of medical services in Cobar.
“There is an “us and them” mentality here that needs to be changed and it’s a problem that has been escalating.”
Dr Mohanu said his job was to address health related issues “with a respectful and professional attitude” but he felt that he was not able to do that in Cobar.
He said in the past he had not wanted to
“air dirty laundry in the public arena”
however a number of recent incidents led him to tender his resignation from the centre and speak out to the media.
“This practice was set up with a lot of effort by Stuart Gordon from the Outback Division of General Practice and Bernice Martin, the practice manager,” Dr Mohanu said.
“I believe it was a good idea to have all the doctors under one umbrella - but that can be argued and debated.
“I got caught up in a nightmare and if something is not done, it is going to escalate.”
Dr Mahanu said he could not be persuaded to change his mind about leaving Cobar.
“It’s too far down the track for that as I
have already accepted a position in Tweed Heads.
“I’m not saying that I’ll close the door on working in Cobar but, for now, I’m moving on.”
State Member for Barwon Kevin Humphries met with Dr Mohanu before his departure last week, and said Cobar couldn’t afford to lose another doctor.
“Cobar needs a unified clinical network where everybody understands their needs and responsibilities,” Mr Humphries told The Cobar Weekly on Friday.
“We are getting more medical services in the west such as an eye service, radiographer and ultrasound,” Mr Humphries said.
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