Dawson MP George Christensen announces solution to Mackay’s doctor demand

A classification change will allow medical practices to recruit from a larger pool of doctors, making it easier for Mackay clinics to secure more GPs. Read why.

Mackay residents will have access to more GP appointments after a classification change to allow medical practices to recruit from a larger pool of doctors.

GP clinics in Mackay can now recruit overseas trained doctors and bonded medical practitioners, after the region successfully campaigned to have its doctor workforce classification, or Distribution Priority Area status, reviewed.

Dawson MP George Christensen said he worked alongside North Queensland Primary Health Network and the Federal Government to change medical workforce classification for the Mackay region, under exceptional circumstances.

“Today is a great day for health in the Mackay region, because GPs have been overworked- very, very overworked in recent times in particular,” Mr Christensen said.

“As a result we have seen delays of days, sometimes even weeks we hear reports of people getting in to see a GP.”

Mr Christensen said Mackay had been classified as having a medical workforce shortage and the change meant some GPs could now recruit doctors immediately.

“What this means is that some clinics that have their eye on potential doctors can recruit immediately, so it will have an immediate effect for some surgeries and for other GP clinics they will probably have to do a bit of work recruiting the right people,” he said.

“Any GP who is there on a bonded arrangement, if they have gone through university at government cost and they would come and work in an area of need, well Mackay GP surgeries will be able capture those people to come and work here.

“Also, this enables local GP clinics to source overseas trained doctors, which we have many in our regional area already, who are doing fine, fine work.”

Health on Central GP Dr Nicole Higgins said in the past five years, the shortage of medical staff had left many patients waiting up to four or five weeks to see their GP.

“People who have moved into the community are finding it increasingly difficult to find a GP to see,” said Dr Higgins.

“Many practices, from a third to a half, have actually closed their books to new patients and it also means those existing patients are struggling to get those appointments with their GP.”

Dr Nicole Higgins says Mackay's doctor shortage has meant many GPs have closed their books. Picture: Madeleine Graham

Shakespeare Medical Centre GP Graeme Cumming said they had a number of doctors who wanted to move to Mackay in the past few years but the classification hindered them.

“We have been hoping and battling for this for a significant period of time,” Dr Cumming said.

“I don’t know how long the battle’s been, but it does seem like forever.

“We hope there will still be people out there who will now come to Mackay because of these changes.”

Mr Cumming said he would like four GPs working alongside him in his practice.

“Whether not we are going to get four, we do not know, “ Mr Cumming said.

“Every single doctor that comes will count.”

Dr Graeme Cumming says he hopes he can now recruit more doctors to his practice. Picture: Madeleine Graham

Federal Regional Health Minister David Gillespie said he set-up the review process to ensure an area’s DPA status was based on contemporaneous information, supported vulnerable patient cohorts and was responsive to significant workforce and population changes.

The DPA indicator has been in place for three years, helping prioritise access to doctors for underserviced regional areas.

It is one initiative to address the maldistribution of the medical workforce and encourage doctors under location restrictions to work in regional, rural and remote communities.

An independent working group made recommendations to Dr Gillespie after assessing exceptional circumstances review applications.

Mr Christensen said Mackay GPs were overworked and underpaid because of the shortage of doctors.

“They are burning themselves out quite frankly,” Mr Christensen said.

“They are arriving early in the morning and leaving late at night, they are just seeing patient after patient, after patient, after patient.

“That situation just cannot carry on, which is why I am very thankful that we come up with all the ticks in the right boxes, so we can have more GPs employed and patients being seen to a lot quicker. ”