The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Rural Chair is visiting South Australia to meet with rural GPs and help shine a light on the challenges they face.
RACGP Rural Chair Dr Michael Clements will meet with local GPs in Port Lincoln, and Port Augusta, and key health stakeholders in Clare and the Riverland Region, travelling from Friday 29 October to Monday 1 November.
Dr Clements, a rural and remote practicing GP based in Townsville, said the rural GP shortage in South Australia was at a critical point.
"The GP shortage in rural and regional South Australia needs to be addressed urgently," he said.
"The lack of access to high-quality primary care has a direct impact on the health of patients. It means people have overall poorer health outcomes and end up in hospital for health issues that could have been managed in general practice.
"As Australia's peak body for both rural and urban GPs, the RACGP is uniquely placed to tackle GP workforce challenges – and the way we do this is by tapping into our members and listening to their concerns. This then informs our advocacy.
"Because nobody understands the problems better than the GPs working on the ground in rural communities.
"We are well aware of the challenges in attracting GPs to work in rural and remote communities in South Australia, as well as the very public concerns about the need for better pay and conditions for local doctors in regional hospitals, which has led to critical shortages.
"I'm looking forward to meeting with local GPs on the ground to hear their concerns, and their thoughts on what needs to be done to fix the problems. Because everyone deserves access to high-quality general practice regardless of their post-code."
Dr Clements said address GP workforce challenges was a top priority for the RACGP.
"As a rural GP myself, I know what entices doctors to 'go rural'. There's great variety in the work and you develop a strong connection to your community, and really get to know your patients.
"However, there are serious challenges, particularly in South Australia. We need to do more to attract GPs to work and train in rural and remote communities, and it goes without saying that rural doctors must be adequately renumerated.
"One change approaching that will also help is the transition of the Australian General Practice Training program back to the specialist colleges, including RACGP – this is an opportunity to reform our GP training system, and improve the distribution of GPs for the long-term benefit of communities Australia-wide."
In April the RACGP released its blueprint for general practice training – Profession-led, community-based training – which aims to attract more graduates to become a GP and do their training in the communities that need them most.
There are well-documented challenges with attracting medical students to live and work in rural and remote communities. While there are many factors behind this, research shows GPs who get a taste of rural life by training there are more likely to remain there and enjoy all the benefits of a career in rural practice.
The transition of the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program back to the general practice colleges, including RACGP, was announced by the Federal Minister for Health in 2017.
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