Diabetic Stacey Wooden was left reeling this week when she needed help managing her insulin levels and was told Tumbarumba’s two biggest GP clinics weren’t offering the critical service.

It comes just two weeks after Wagga’s dedicated diabetes clinic closed its doors for the final time, owing to a deal struck between the government and chemists for exclusive distribution of insulin pump products.

“I’ve had diabetes for six years and normally it’s fine, but at the moment my levels are high and I can’t manage it,” Ms Wooden said.

“I tried to make an appointment to see a diabetic educator at both Roth’s Corner Medical Centre and Tumbarumba Medical Centre, (but) both centres have lost their educators.”

Tumbarumba Medical Centre practice manager Lorraine Staub worried her patients would suffer complications.

“Last visit from the diabetes educator we were told they won’t be coming back due to politics,” Ms Staub said.

“Diabetes is growing immensely and this is going to compound the problem.

“We have patients who will stop looking after themselves.”

The educator in question, Christine Thorpe, said a new government funding model that took effect this week undermined the financial viability of traveling. 

“There has been a change in the funding arrangements, which has been in the process since the last change in government,” Ms Thorpe said.

“Unfortunately, from the perspective of providing a private service it most likely wouldn't be financially viable.”

Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN) executive manager of planning Chris Howard was adamant services would return to normal.

“The MPHN had been providing these services into general practices across the region through a blend of staff we employed and contractors,” Ms Howard said.

“The government no longer wants the MPHN to directly provide the service with our own employees, they only want contractors to work with the GPs.

“Any services that were delivered by our employees, we’ve offered that same funding to GPs to hire contractors.”