After moving from Corowa to Yarrawonga in 2023 and taking over the ownership of the Yarrawonga Medical Centre before opening Mulwala’s first ever medical clinic last year, Dr Ayon and Dr Wen are returning to the town that holds a significant place in their heart from Monday, October 13.
The new Corowa Medical Clinic, which reopened on September 17, is in the same location as the old bulk billing clinic behind Terry White Chemmart at 48 Queen Street but will not be a continuation of that clinic. Instead, being an entirely new clinic.
Dr Ayon said the main reason he and Dr Wen are coming back to town is due to their love of the people in Corowa and surrounds.
“When we moved to Yarrawonga and Mulwala, a large population of patients followed us. So we thought let's try and make their life a little bit simpler by providing a service closer to home,” Dr Ayon said.
“It's always been in our heart. We were there for ten years so it creates a bond. It was our first job outside metropolitan areas and we just loved it.
“We felt that Corowa needed another service which also provides comprehensive care to the aging population without having to travel.
“Then the opportunity really occurred for things to line up. The previous clinic closed down and the space was available. So it was almost like the universe was telling us that you have to do this.
“Our aim is to provide a good, sustainable, long term and responsive GP service to Corowa.”
The new clinic will provide essentially all the same services as their practises in Yarrawonga and Mulwala, only with a little bit less of the in-depth skin cancer procedures.
“For those who have already heard the news, there's been a few questions about the charges and billing,” Dr Ayon said.
“Essentially, it's not a bulk billing clinic, it's a private billing clinic. But health care card holders and children under 16 will be bulk billed.
“Obviously, certain procedures do not attract Medicare payment so the cost will be passed on to the patients.
“For some of the big skin cancer excisions, patients will still have to come to Mulwala, but we'll try to do as much as we can in Corowa.”
Dr Ayon and Dr Wen will remain extremely busy, sharing themselves between the three clinics, however patients needn’t worry as there will be a constant three doctors on hand at Corowa, five days a week.
“We will still be working in Yarrawonga and Mulwala as well as a couple of days in Corowa, but we have hired three full time doctors to be available to see our Corowa and surround patients throughout the working week,” Dr Ayon said.
“The plan is the clinic will be open five days a week, and there will be a minimum of three doctors available on any given day.
“The two of us have also acquired contracts with the Corowa Hospital so we are looking forward to working with patients within the hospital system.
“We are really looking forward to returning to Corowa and can’t wait to welcome patients to our new clinic.”
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