A Victorian town's battle to recruit GPs highlights Australia's doctor shortage crisis

ABC NEWS (Australia)

In Melbourne's outer south-east it could be about to get even harder to get an appointment at a local GP. The only clinic in Pearcedale has just reduced its opening hours and could be about to close because it can't attract enough doctors.

Transcript

00:00 In Piercedale, it seems everyone has a story about the local GP.

00:07 Two years ago, this gentleman here saved my life.

00:09 It keeps me out of hospital for a start.

00:12 My kids had scarlet fever.

00:13 They looked after them through that.

00:15 Mental health was pretty low.

00:18 She's the only doctor you can talk to her.

00:22 But the practice could be about to close because it can't attract enough doctors for its more

00:27 than 3,000 patients.

00:30 I do my scripts at 9 o'clock, 10 o'clock at night when my kids are asleep.

00:34 Or send my scripts at 6 o'clock in the morning before my kids wake up or drop to school.

00:39 The clinic has just closed on Fridays and dozens of patients are being turned away daily.

00:46 This is the only doctors in Piercedale.

00:49 The nearest one is in Somerville, about a 10 minute drive away.

00:52 But if you don't drive, the bus only comes four times a day.

00:57 Part of the issue is a federal government policy change about where overseas trained

01:02 medical graduates can work long term.

01:05 Priority areas used to include only remote parts of Australia.

01:10 But now newly arrived graduate doctors can work in some regional and outer suburban areas

01:15 where demand is great.

01:18 Places like Wyndham, Sunbury and Frankston in outer Melbourne.

01:23 Piercedale is classed as part of metropolitan Melbourne, so it misses out.

01:27 I think that the concept is sound, but often with a lot of these things the devil is in

01:31 the detail.

01:32 The health department is reviewing the system.

01:35 I don't think we would be here if they don't do anything about it.

01:40 The change has meant more doctors can work in Greater Frankston, but the local MP says

01:45 it's not a silver bullet.

01:47 We need to focus more on encouraging Australians to train up as doctors and to see the rewards

01:55 of serving as a doctor somewhere other than inner cities.

02:00 A doctor shortage felt across the country, but not always evenly.

02:04 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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