Skilled rural generalists leaving Tasmania with no timeline to change policy which would allow them to work both as GPs and within the hospital system

Skilled doctors are leaving Tasmania to take up jobs interstate because promised changes to a key health policy are yet to be implemented. The details >>

Generic photo illustrating doctor and patient

Newly trained GPs with skills to also work in the state’s strained hospital system are leaving to find work interstate because Tasmania’s health department still hasn’t changed rules which it promised more than four months ago.

A GP who led the charge to allowing rural generalists to work across both primary and secondary care in Tasmania has expressed frustration that there being no timeline for when proposed changes to a health policy will be implemented.

Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine Regional Director of Training Sally Street a major advocate for reworking the policy, said she was worried that the promise of change “will be forgotten” and that “nothing will change.”

With the latest batch of rural generalist trainees finishing their studies now, Dr Street said the start of 2025 would have been ideal to have the new policy in place.

“They had been looking at jobs elsewhere in the country and then thought there might be something available in Tasmania.

“And sadly, we haven’t been able to give them confirmation there will be opportunities here, and so they’re leaving.”

During the Mercury Bush Summit, which took place in Launceston in August, she said that Tasmania was the only state in which rural generalists could not work in primary and secondary care.

As a result, a rural generalist employed as a GP cannot work in a public hospital.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff was in the audience at the Bush Summit when Dr Street expressed her frustration with the current policy.

A few days after the event, he said the government directed the Department of Health to allow rural generalists to provide services in hospitals.

However, Dr Street said she had not been told when the policy change would take effect.

“In terms of official updates, there has been none,” she said.

“We still haven’t been given any official information around what place rural generalists will have within the health system and when those positions will be available.

“The longer it goes on without official updates, the more likely that what’s been said will be forgotten, nothing will change, and there won’t be a place for us in the health system after all.”

Doctor Sally Street regional director of training Tas ACRRM. The Mercury Bush Summit in Launceston. Picture: Rob Burnett

A Department of Health spokesperson said it was committed to establishing pathways to allow rural generalists to work to their full scope of practice.

“Further work is already underway and will provide a pathway for Rural Generalists to practice in all hospitals across Tasmania, which will help to fill gaps and assist in providing care for Tasmanians sooner,’ the spokesperson said.

“It is important that any changes include thorough consultation with clinicians, educators and administrators, and that they are sustainable for the longer term.

“A new statewide policy has also been implemented that considers a Rural Generalist for a certain role before a locum is engaged to fill that position.

“Significant progress has already been made to date and we will continue to progress this with our local stakeholders.”

Minister Jacquie Petrusma. New Tasmanian government cabinet swearing in at government house in Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Health Minister Jacquie Petrusma said enacting the policy change was a priority.

“Our Government has made it clear we will ensure Rural Generalists can provide services in our major hospitals,” Ms Petrusma said.

“This will help to provide care for Tasmanians sooner, and it is my clear expectation that this is progressed as fast as possible.”

Ms Petrusma and the Department of Health did not provide a timeline for the policy change.