How do you scale a clinic without burning out or breaking what made it special?

In this episode, Dr Todd Cameron sits down with rural GP owner Dr Ben Nally for a deeply honest, practical conversation about what it really takes to scale a General Practice, especially when you’re doing it in a small, regional community with limited workforce, tight margins, and very public accountability.

You’ll enjoy a grounded walkthrough of what happens when a clinic starts in the red, runs on goodwill instead of systems, and slowly — deliberately — transforms into a thriving, sustainable business that serves both patients and the people running it. 

Ben shares the uncomfortable early lessons, the small strategic wins that created momentum, and the leadership mindset shifts that allowed the clinic to grow from 2–3 FTE GPs to a team of 14+, without burning out the owners or losing the soul of the practice.

This conversation speaks directly to owners who feel the weight of responsibility — to patients, staff, and community — but don’t want to sacrifice their health, family, or sanity to keep the doors open. It reinforces a core truth: sustainable growth doesn’t come from doing more yourself; it comes from better systems, better people, and clearer leadership.

Stop reacting, start leading intentionally, and build a practice that actually supports your life, not consumes it.

In this episode of the Scale My Clinic Podcast, you’ll learn:

• 00:57 – The realities of running a practice in a rural community
• 03:30 – GP Ownership as community leadership, not just business
• 10:31 – Buying into a legacy practice (and knowing what to change and what not to break)
• 13:16 – Mechanics of turning a struggling clinic around and how small wins create momentum
• 16:44 – How intentional investment in people, leadership, and the physical clinic environment unlocks growth from 2.3 FTE GPs to 8.5+ FTE 

ABOUT BEN NALLY

Dr Ben Nally, JCCA, MBBS, FRACGP is a Practice Owner, General Practitioner, Post Graduate Diploma in Anaesthetics

WHERE TO FIND BEN NALLY

Website: https://cgpmansfield.com.au/doctors-and-staff/#ben 

Website: https://cgpmansfield.com.au/ 

QUOTES

“Being in a small community as a GP, you’re quite well known. You are a pillar of the community. If you enjoy being part of the community and holding those leadership positions, I think being in a small town is the place to be.” – Dr. Ben Nally

“I could talk about systems and programs and software, but honestly, for me, it’s the people that are the biggest thing. We’ve had people that I implicitly trust, and I think that is massive. The people’s where it’s at.” – Dr. Ben Nally

“It’s all about momentum. You’ve just got to get some small wins and runs on the board. Trying to do it all yourself is a one-way street to burnout.” – Dr. Ben Nally

“There aren’t that many places where you can do such comprehensive medicine. True cradle to grave care is incredibly rewarding. That’s something you don’t want to lose.” – Dr. Todd Cameron

Missed the previous Episode?

Listen to Episode 87 here: Scaling Clinics Without Losing Lifestyle: How Mary & Sean Did It