RACGP leaders visit remote Territory communities, with focus on providing culturally-appropriate training for GPs
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners’ new leader has outline the best way to tackle the Territory’s worsening doctor shortage.
Northern Territory
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More funding and culturally-appropriate training for local doctors are the solutions to one of the biggest issues facing healthcare in the Territory.
A shortage of general practitioners is at “a crisis” point and the Northern Territory is feeling the pinch, according to the new president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
Dr Nicole Higgins was among national GP leaders who visited remote communities in the Top End this week ahead of the college taking over medical training from next year.
Dr Higgins said the visit was “heartening” and all about building relationships with the NT, which was disproportionately impacted by a national problem.
“The real concern at the moment for GPs is the shortage — there is a crisis at the moment — and the reduced number of doctors wanting to choose general practice and the NT in particular has been really affected by those changes,” she said.
“We want to show the NT is incredibly important and needs as much support as it can get to ensure we have a GP workforce.”
Health workforces visited included the Tiwi Islands, Jabiru, Oenpelli, Elcho Island, Gove, Groote Eylandt and Maningrida.
Dr Higgins said support should be mainly financial, but also encouraging more local students to take up the specialty.
She said there was only a dozen prospective doctors, which was down from the usual 50 this year.
“There needs to be more funding of GP services, better funding of Aboriginal medical services and better support for training,” she said.
The training model would become national as of February 1, meaning current provider Northern Territory General Practice Education would be stood down.
NTGPE chief executive Dr Richard Zanner said it was important for the college to see the context of the Territory for themselves.
“The NT’s just a little more unique in some respects to communities in QLD and WA,” he said.
“I thought it was really important to get them over and visit the communities.
“I think it’s been a real eye opener for them.”
Dr Zanner said the NTGPE had been working in the communities for 20 years and thought the best way forward was through collaboration.
“The Elders and Traditional Owners have to be part of the solution,” he said.
“We’re sad that we’re closing shop but I think there is benefits to the national model that they have.
“The most important thing we can provide for a successful future of GP training in the NT is the transfer of valuable knowledge that we’ve built up.”
Dr Higgins said the RACGP’s footprint and investment in the Northern Territory would continue.
“We want to make sure that during this transition we look after the relationships (the NTGPE) have built with respect and care,” she said.
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