Health policy reform can benefit the regions

By ANNE WEBSTER

WE recently had the first sitting week of Parliament for 2023 and for me, in the shadow regional health portfolio.

Healthcare has always been a major focus of mine and since I stepped into Parliament I have fiercely advocated for better healthcare in our regions.

In my first speech in the House this year I highlighted how distressing this issue is for so many in Mallee.

The fact is, those who live in regional Australia do not have equitable and fair access to healthcare compared to our city counterparts.

The current Federal Labor Government helps perpetuate this disparity in disinterestedly expanding the Distribution Priority Areas, resulting in international medical graduates able to now choose an outer-urban practice rather than a regional area as their bonded commitment.

Rural Doctors Association of Australia president Megan Belot states a number of general practitioners are reporting a decrease in application for positions as well as resignations and late withdrawals of applications with the DPA being put into

Federal Perspective

effect. Almost all clinics advised doctors moving to a capital city or large inner regional town, with only three years or less in a rural location.

In a recent survey I ran across Mallee for people to tell their story about their access to healthcare in Mallee, the results were not good. Nearly 2000 people responded, and: z 30 per cent of respondents said they do not have a regular GP, z 40 per cent of respondents put off seeing a GP because it is too hard to get an appointment z 33 per cent of people have presented to their local hospital because they could not see a GP.

Best health outcomes occur when patients have long standing relationships with a doctor who can provide ongoing care.

As one doctor said to me recently: “When you have been seeing the same patient for 16 years, you know when they walk into the room that something is not right.”

Continuity of care is everything in primary care and that is what this government does not understand when it invokes policy that contributes to a lack of access to GPs in the regions.

The Grattan Institute’s A New Medicare: Strengthening General Practice report highlights that people in small rural towns have about 35 per cent fewer GPs, see their GP about half as often, and are 30 per cent more likely to report waiting too long for an appointment.

GPs without much local competition are likely to charge higher prices and bulk-bill fewer of their patients.

As a result, rural patients pay higher out-of-pocket costs to see their GP. GPs in small rural towns also work about 20 per cent longer per day than their city counterparts and attend call outs about five times per often.

The RACGP’s 2022 Health Of The Nation Report states almost three in four GPs (73 per cent) reported they have experienced feelings of burnout over the past 12 months. Also, almost half of GPs (48 per cent) surveyed reported that it is financially unsustainable for them to continue working as a GP.

There aren’t any silver bullets that will immediately fix the situation, and it would be naïve to think so.

Without meaningful intervention things will move beyond crisis.

Fifty-eight per cent of GPs in Mallee are aged 55 years and above. That means many are heading to retirement.

Doctors are so overloaded that taking on new patients is not an option.

Today marks day two of the Regional Health Workforce Summit I have facilitated in Mildura.

This summit has peak health bodies out in the regions to answer regional workforce issues presented by local healthcare professionals.

My aim is to develop reform policy to benefit all who live and work in the regions.

It is clear – we need solutions and they must come from the grassroots level.

*AnneWebsteristhefederalmember forMallee

Yung Balug Keeping Place

The Museum is situated on the property of Paul & Cathie Haw.

Well worth a visit to see the amazing Artefacts collected from the Boort Region.

A recent addition is 34 photos taken by John Hunter Kerr in the 1850s. This was made possible by the State Library of Victoria.

Everyone is welcome. but please call or Email before visiting.

Phone - 0417 333 171

Email - paulcathiehaw@gmail.com

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