Medical clinics across Shepparton have struggled to meet patient demand for months because of a shortage of doctors.
From talking to colleagues, general practice registrar at Princess Park Clinic Dr Katherine Sarna-Wetton said the doctor shortage was an on-going issue.
Anecdotally, Dr Sarna-Wetton has heard from patients that it has been difficult to see a GP in a timely manner.
“I have noticed also that people may have quite a lot of pent up health concerns that they haven’t been able to address during the pandemic ... causing stress and anxiety,” she said.
“It also seems quite challenging for both adults and younger people to access psychology services at the moment, which is adding to the challenge of providing effective mental health support.”
A fear of long wait-times at emergency departments may also be deterring people from presenting with more urgent issues, instead opting to wait for an appointment with their local doctor, which puts more pressure on GPs, Dr Sarna-Wetton said.
The RDAA is calling for initiatives from politicians that will deliver doctors on the ground in the near future, in addition to rural doctor training pathways and positions after they complete their university studies.
“The shortage is real, and it is now,” RDAA president Megan Belot said.
“We need solutions that will get more doctors into the areas that need them – now.
“We need more training places to develop more doctors with the skills needed by rural communities – now.
“Without the workforce strategies to support these rurally-trained medical students once they graduate, they just end up back in the city for their pre-vocational years, and we will have lost the opportunity to keep them rural.”
RDAA delivered a cost-neutral Rural Medical Workforce Plan to Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt and Shadow Health Minister Mark Butler, and policy that details the changes needed in the health system to support a sustainable rural health workforce in the future.
“We need real action and real reform for real rural areas,” Dr Belot said.
“Not bits and pieces that may take us years to see the benefit from.
“The answers are there, and the money is there, we just need the parties to step up.”
