$40K TO STAY: New incentives to tackle doctor shortage, more reasons for GPs to practice permanently in Douglas Shire

DR SHORTAGE

David Gardiner

Journalist

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The RACGP says it has talked the government into offering a $40K incentive for GPs to stay and work in the region. Picture: Submitted

Doctor shortages in the Douglas Shire aren't likely to improve anytime in the near future – but the peak organisation representing GPs has welcomed a new announcement that provides incentive payments for doctors to stay in the region.

The government announced in the recent State budget that $40,000 incentive payments will be available to GPs to help attract them stay in regional areas such as Douglas once they leave the hospital system to go into GP training.

The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) said offering incentive payments was a key priority in its Budget submission and is thankful to the state government “for listening to GPs and their communities,” the RACGP chair, Dr Cathryn Hester said, adding that the $40,000 incentive funding would help fill the gap.

“Unfortunately, doctors leaving the hospital system to their GP training usually take a hit to earnings that can be in the tens of thousands of dollars, and they also lose the parental and other leave they have earned,” Dr Hester said.

“That doesn’t happen with other specialisations. Australia needs a solution to this, and the Queensland Government has stepped up to help to fill that gap. 

“This kind of funding works, because it helps to cover the pay and entitlements disparity junior doctors experience when they complete their hospital training and commence training in general practice. 

“A recent survey found only 10.5% of final-year medical students have general practice as their first choice of career. The financial incentive will encourage medical students to choose GP over other specialities offering better pay.”

Newsport readers report long waits for Dr appointments

After our recent report about patients having to wait for three weeks or longer just to see their GP – particularly in Mossman where general practices had closed – more readers have since come forward to share their experiences. 

“3weeks!!!! Really that's nothing. I had an appointment in April that was booked beginning of march. Day of appointment it was cancelled then rescheduled for the next available appointment 7 weeks later,” one reader posted on our social media in response to the story. 

Others reported similar, or worse, accounts:

“If you want to see your usual doctor try 6 to 8 week's. I had to get a doctor's certificate from emergency department at Mossman hospital after my physio appointment. It was embarrassing, thankfully they weren't busy at the time.” 

“My first available is mid July. Lot longer than 3 weeks."

“I think locals should get priority appointments over visitors [depends on the medical reasons - which should be triaged] as living and working here some of us need medical attention to return to work.”

Other practitioner shortages too

According to the RACGP, GPs are certainly not the only health and medical practitioners the far north is short of.

“We’re projected to need significantly more pharmacists, nurses, psychiatrists and other allied health professionals.”

 

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