Up to 50 per cent of doctors at one Shepparton clinic departed in 2021, while others reported significant turnover.
Long hours and a lack of support contributed to many doctors and young medical practitioners wanting to move to Melbourne, while the report also stated Shepparton was not an attractive place for professionals to move to.
The report, titled ‘Diagnosing a rural doctor deficiency: symptoms of labour shortages in Shepparton general practice’ was prepared for State Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed’s office in October 2021.
High turnover and low retention of medical practitioners directly impact patient care and the mental health of staff who remain in Shepparton.
Four practising GPs or owners of general practices with nearly 100 years’ experience working in Shepparton between them were interviewed for the report, including Dr Ursula Russell of Lister House Clinic and Dr John Guymer of Wyndham House Clinic.
Elizabeth Kennedy of Shepparton Medical Clinic and Dr Rachel Adams of Princess Park Clinic were also interviewed.
Three of the four participating GPs acknowledged turnover of between 25 and 50 per cent in the past year at their clinics.
All expressed concern about the imminent retirement of long-term GPs in the region.
Shepparton GPs have become “very dependant on registrars” and use of students slowed consultations.
While many students are trained at the Shepparton Rural Clinical School, connected to the University of Melbourne and the multidisciplinary, multi-doctor facilities are “quite attractive to train in”, once the training is complete many registrars immediately leave, the report said.
For years international medical graduates have been used to fill the void and federal requirements have meant IMGs have made up half of Shepparton’s GP workforce.
While IMGs are supposed to work in regional areas for 10 years, loopholes often mean they are able to move to metropolitan areas far sooner.
Border closures since the start of the pandemic have also dried up the number of people who have been able to move to Australia.
“The current level of IMG recruitment to rural areas is unsustainable, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic,” the report said.
The report said due to education facilities and the size of Shepparton’s health service, the city’s general practice should demonstrate ongoing self-sufficiency, yet does not.
The report made six recommendations — one of which, re-allocating Shepparton to be eligible for more GPs — was put in place in January.
The others call for re-instating a bilateral agreement between the Commonwealth and Victoria on co-ordinated care, introducing a Victorian Rural Health Workforce Committee and determining regional recruitment benchmarks for universities.
The report also recommended formalising support networks and rural mentorship models across primary health networks, primary care partnerships and local hospitals, as well as strengthening domestic recruitment strategies.
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