A REPORT release by the Grattan Institute has identified the New England region as one of the seven lowest access areas for general practitioners in Australia.
The report Access All Areas: New Solutions for GP Shortages in Rural Australia shines a light on a number of issues already identified as contributing to the recognised shortage of GPs and other primary health care professionals in the region.
New England Medicare Local chairman Dr David Briggs welcomed the report’s focus on poor access to primary health care in rural and regional areas and the need to improve primary care.
“We already know our area is facing workforce shortages in medicine and allied health professions,” he said.
“This has an adverse impact on patients getting the care they need in a timely way.
“The report further highlights this is a generational shortage, not something that can be easily overcome.
“A multitude of long-term strategies are needed, not just in areas where there is an obvious shortage now, but across both primary and allied health care that will work to recruit professionals everywhere.”
Dr Briggs said steps were being taken by many organisations, including New England Medicare Local which had begun to bear fruit.
“New England Medicare Local has established effective partnerships with a number of other organisations, including the Hunter New England Local Health District and the Rural Doctor’s Network, to continue to address our region’s shortage of health professionals through its recruitment programs,” he said.
“Those programs consider the complexities of attracting health professionals to the region including things like access to education for a health professional’s children or investigating job opportunities for their spouse.”
Outside of its focus on recruitment, Dr Briggs said, New England Medicare Local was also working to improve Telehealth, access to after hours care and the up-skilling of existing medical professionals including Aboriginal Health Workers and Primary Health Care Nurses through its Continued Professional Development events.
“Good primary care is predicated on team work and communication between health care providers to get best outcomes” Dr Briggs said.
“For this reason we have been promoting and encouraging through the establishment of the eHealth record,” he said.
Dr Briggs said in his mind the report further highlighted the need for New England Medicare Local to work with the federal member and the new government to ensure they recognised the vital role of eHealth and other interdisciplinary communication among health professionals.
Medicare Local chief executive Graeme Kershaw added that New England Medicare Local was already supporting a range of health professionals such as general practice nurses to expand the care they provide so that more people can gain good quality care in their local area.
“We are keen to work with others practitioners, Aboriginal Health workers, paramedics and all mentioned in the report in new, innovative ways to deliver health care,” he said.
