missingsyd

Very friendly people here - so much more so than the neighbourhood that I fairly recently `fled' - Bathurst - after almost three years. That, being my last `forever home' - although it did seem like forever.
BUT FOR THIS REVIEW - what did not even occur to me to ask - BEFORE moving to Lake Munmorah - was what was the situation with regards doctors available to take on patients. Bathurst has plenty and, while quite a few were regrettable and forgettable, there were also a few excellent doctors, as well. Becoming one of their patients was a matter of course - not search. Very important for me, as I need a three-monthly blood test - and other periodical monitored tests. But, shaken now with wonders of discovery, in regards to Lake Munmorah's scarcity of available doctors, I would most definitely not have moved here - and recommend that you weigh up the situation in your own consideration of a relocation here.
Here, there are so very, very many old residents - among whom, of course, I number myself! Most surgery/clinic websites warn that the doctors `are not accepting new patients'. Then there are those `lottery-win-like' moments of actually locating a doctor who is accepting patients. From time to time, they move to the area or surrounds.
I was congratulating myself in finally finding one - some distance away - who, having recently moved to the area, was taking on new patients. Then you might find the rarity in such a situation has another sting in its tail. In my case, my new and rare available doctor expresses discomfort at one of my previously-prescribed medications. These medicines drew not even a query - once my medical files were consulted - in Sydney and Bathurst! And this doctor had a copy of those files!
This new-to-area, patient-accepting doctor - who works within a clinic, which, so commonly here, does not bulk-bill - does not refuse to prescribe the once-every-night, for-life medication. No. But to-my-dismay, he feels uncomfortable at prescribing the usual 100-tablet prescription. He is prepared to allow the medication in 50-tablet proportions. With over ten years of one tablet every night, it would be a little late for fears of addiction - and he is continuing access anyway - just in smaller increments. I just will need to make twice as many patient-gap-payment appointments to fulfil that treatment as should be the case. The `why' of this decision escapes me!
But I am here to provide a suburb review. For a review, this must seem over-specific to my own case. BUT it is predicated on my inability to just easily switch to a more sensible doctor! So finding an available doctor and then - if greatly concerned as to the ability of that doctor - restart the search?
My previous doctors - in Sydney and Bathurst - did not see the halving of medicine allotments as necessary - for what purpose? In fact, governments have sought to allow pharmacies to provide greater amounts of medicine to cut patient costs. And without the medication, I revert to my problem - of over 10 years ago - of no sense of taste (starting long before Covid) - instead all things ingested seeming to have the texture of oil! So abstinence leads to a critical blow to my enjoyment of life's given pleasures. I had suffered this situation for almost a year - a situation that I do not wish to relive. Of course, with only one doctor available, so far - what are my options? Indulge an inexplicable halving of an every night medication! I worry as to the mindset of this doctor. Worrying as I have been advised of a shortened lifespan.
So scarcity of doctors may easily be more than a one-off inconvenient search. In my case there are wider implications. I have no faith in the doctor whom I was `lucky' enough to find.
I do so very much wish that I had learnt about this available doctor shortage PRIOR to moving here! I now - constantly - consider how I might effect a move to an area better-suited to my needs - and not so long after already making the move here!
In the meantime - and this may be a permanent decision - my best option will be to drive an hour and a half, returning to patient-status with my pre-2021 doctor in the inner west of Sydney. A tentative appointment has been made! Then, hopefully, work on options - or just day-dream as to how to move closer to there.
This does not detract, at all, from the much more bountiful aspect of Lake Munmorah - the extremely welcoming and friendly dispositions of the neighbours. I am not so much into the endemic community-bonding (but there are so very many residents who love just that). I am assured that the neighbours will respect my non-inclusion. Most of my socializing, a personal choice, is derived from contacts around the internet. There I communicate with those of like interests. I tend to be sheepish of community-preferred activities - but, again, I am very much in the minority. I can be very much at ease with my vouching for the abounding joy and enthusiasm of my neighbours.