Mogo surgeons keep services going in hope of rescue bid as public health system impacted

Moves are afoot to resuscitate Mogo Day Surgery through a new entity – Eurobodalla Medical Services. But its fate lies with the administrator and interested parties who may buy the facility.

Mogo Day Surgery went into voluntary administration early in the month without warning, leaving hundreds of patients in limbo.

Dr Arvind Suppiah is one of three main surgeons who have set up Eurobodalla Medical Services now consulting out of the Queens Street Medical Centre in Moruya and hoping to move back to Mogo where procedures can be done.

“We’re trying to keep it as local, family friendly and population friendly as possible,” he said.

At present, patients have to go to Sydney and Wollongong, and closer to home at Ulladulla, Nowra and Bega.

“But it is less than ideal. That’s why we’re waiting to see what happens with Mogo.”

Dr Suppiah said there were parties interested in the Mogo operation, some locally.

He said Mogo’s closure was already impacting the public health system because that was where a lot of Category 2 non-urgent surveillance colonoscopies were done.

Canberra was locked up for one to two years, in terms of non-urgent cases.

The next couple of weeks would be crucial but if a buyout for Mogo did not eventuate, it would be worth the public system taking it over, Dr Suppiah said.

But he remained optimistic a deal would be done.

“We are committed to re-establishing a service locally and not redistributing everyone,” he said.

The administrator, Chad Rapsey of Rapsey Griffiths Turnaround + Advisory, said directors Ross Richmond and Sanjay Singh had disclosed 78 creditors with debts totalling $433,349.75.

They included staff, trade creditors, surgeons and statutory bodies such as the Tax Office, NSW Revenue, and insurer iCare.

The likelihood of payment was unclear and depended on the outcome of an Expression of Interest campaign for the salvage, sale or reopening of the business.

Mr Rapsey said the business was unable to pay its debts as and when they became due and payable.

An independent investigation will be conducted into the circumstances leading up to the administration and a report provided to creditors in due course.

Southern NSW Local Health District (SNSWLHD) said it was working closely with local GPs and physicians to support those impacted by the recent closure of Mogo Day Surgery.

A spokesperson said all patients who had surgery scheduled at Mogo Day Surgery should contact their GP to arrange referrals to alternative health facilities, according to their specific health needs.

“SNSWLHD works collaboratively with Canberra Health Services (CHS) and Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) to provide timely, high-quality health care to those requiring surgery in our region,” the spokesperson said.

“Patients are cared for across SNSWLHD at the most appropriate facility for their clinical condition. In some instances, the most appropriate health facility will be in the ACT or ISLHD.”