RACGP calls for more investment in training and attracting doctors to the NT

The head of the rural doctors organisation says the investment in general practice is a small solution to a big problem, particularly in the Northern Territory. Here’s how the budget failed us.

Incentives for doctors choosing to work in rural and remote places, announced in Labor's Federal Budget, have been welcomed by a leader of the industry.

But he said the ‘bandaid” fixes would not be sustainable.

Payments up to $10,500 will be available for general practitioners and other medical staff to work in rural and remote areas.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners rural chair Michael Clements said rural practices were encouraged by the government following through on election promises, but the situation was more dire than the funding allocated covered.

Dr Michael Clements, chair of the rural board of the RACGP said more investment was needed for primary practice. Picture: Supplied

“They have invested more into support for our rural and remote GPs in undertaking extra training,” he said.

“And with workforce incentive payments that recognises extra skills people take on — it’s good to see these come to fruition.”

“But there’s still a sense that we’re putting bandaids on a bigger problem.”

Dr Clements said “far more” was needed to tackle the problem as it continues to worsen, with a shortfall of more than 10k doctors expected in the next decade.

“It doesn’t seem to be taken into account how desperate and dire the situation has become,” he said.

An extra $8.4m over three years has been invested in additional training positions in regional Australia, but it is understood the NT only received a small proportion of those positions.

Getting doctors to train and work in the Northern Territory was one of the biggest issues facing the industry currently.

“Locum rates and pay offers are getting higher and higher — as GPs go in shorter and shorter supply they will continue to choose the easiest and most attractive places to work,” he said.

“As much as we know it’s a wonderful place to work we can’t get people there and those harder to fill townships will be the losers.

“The Northern Territory is bearing the brunt of it.”

Dr Clements said a positive that came out of the budget was the $314.5m allocated for First Nations’ health, including more than $50m to train up health workers.

“There was a significant amount of detail in the health offerings that focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders which will see a good proportion going to the Northern Territory,” he said.