Call for doctor shortage action
Community anxiety about the state and future of doctor services across the region has triggered a call for the State Government to take action.
Member for Lowan Emma Kealy said she wanted an explanation from the government about what it was doing ‘to address critical General Practitioner shortages in rural health’.
She said a lack of access to ‘local’ doctors in western Victorian communities was ‘rightfully’ generating high levels of regional concern and there was a need for incentive schemes.
Ms Kealy said the government was responding to service shortages in some sectors in country Victoria, but ignoring others.
A doctor shortage was a glaring case in point.
“We know there is a critical shortage of health professionals in country areas,” Ms Kealy said.
“I am regularly contacted by constituents concerned about the rural doctor shortage.
“The situation in Minyip, Rupanyup and Murtoa, where the towns’ only doctor recently departed for Melbourne leaving all three towns without a doctor, is a perfect example.
“I have also been approached by local pharmacy owners frustrated at their inability to attract qualified pharmacists to the area, as well as numerous other health providers finding it difficult to fill vacant positions.”
Ms Kealy added that a Royal Commission into mental health had also confirmed a critical shortage of mental-health profes
sionals in rural areas. “It is difficult, if not almost impossible, to attract health professionals into country areas without financial incentives,” she said.
“If the Andrews Labor government is prepared to offer incentives to teachers, why not also extend it to include doctors, pharmacists, mental-health professionals and other positions needed for rural health?”
Ms Kealy said latest Rural Workforce Agency Victoria figures showed there were 192 GP vacancies in regional Victoria, compared with five across Melbourne.
Medical services across the region, including doctor availability, have been the subject of broad discussion and debate this year.
While Wimmera doctors have been at the forefront in developing an Australia-wide Healthpathways service to help farm workers, a lack of Wimmera doctors has been the subject of community anxiety.
Tristar Medical Group, which provides GP services in various regional areas, declared last month the absence of a resident doctor in Murtoa, Rupanyup and Minyip as an example of the shortage gripping regional Australia.
The group, which claims government policy changes through the Department of Immigration had impacted heavily on its business model and led to an internal restructure, plans to remain in communities where it provides bulk-billing services.
Concerns about regional healthcare across Australia also led to Member for Mallee Anne Webster developing and submitting a reform policy to Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt for consideration.