By NICOLE VALICEK
GENERAL practitioners and medical specialists are being offered grants of up to $40,000 to set-up a practice in Hobsons Bay in a bid to fill crippling shortages in the municipality health system.
South Western Melbourne Medicare Local (SWMML) will provide grants to eligible doctors or specialists of up to $30,000 for relocating to practices in eligible parts of Hobsons Bay and up to $40,000 to set up a practice.
SWMML chief executive officer Gaylene Coulton said there was a shortage of doctors and specialists in Hobsons Bay.
Ms Coulton said an increase in the number of GPs and specialists would bring many benefits to the area.
’’We are currently experiencing a shortage of doctors and specialists in Hobsons Bay and I welcome these incentives as another way to encourage doctors to relocate to our area,’’ she said.
She said considerable growth in Hobsons Bay over recent years had put increasing pressure on services provided by medical practitioners.
“Because there has been so much growth in the area, health services are really stretched. These grants will provide extra assistance to doctors and specialists planning a move out of inner metropolitan Melbourne.”
SWMML’s recent Health Needs Analysis of the local area highlighted the need for more specialist services in Hobson Bay.
“We have a strong demand for expanded specialist health services, including chronic pain management, medical oncology, immunology and allergies, cardiology and gastroenterology.”
Ms Coulton said there were .97 GPs per 1000 residents in Hobsons Bay down from 1.18 GPs per 1000 residents on average in Victoria.
“In comparison, there are 2.12 GPs per 1000 residents in the City of Melbourne and only .89 GPs per 1000 residents in Wyndham.”
She said residents in Hobsons Bay were forced to travel long distances to the other side of Melbourne for appointments.
“By providing specialists and GPs with incentives to set up their practices in our area, we hope we can alleviate some of these issues, reduce travel time and costs as well as shrinking the waiting lists for appointments.”
Factors that are influencing the shortage of GPs and specialists in the area are the ageing population and increased demand for health services through population growth.
“Many of our existing doctors and specialists are reaching retirement age and this is also putting a strain on the availability of health services in the area.”
Applications for the grants are now open and will be received until close of business on Friday 22 November.
An application for the grant does not guarantee approval.
GPs and specialists who are currently working full-time, part-time or are temporarily are out of the workforce are eligible to apply for the grants which are funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health.
For more information contact Jacqui Horwood at jhorwood@swmml.org.au or on 8731 6532.
