The crisis in rural medical and health services affects the whole of country Australia. Local Government in NSW hosted a summit last month to address some of these issues.
It is no exaggeration to state that the critical shortage of health professionals in regional and rural areas is one of the most significant problems communities face as a state and a nation.
Local Government recognises the need to provide equitable and accessible health services across the states, and a lack of appropriate medical services threatens the sustainability of our communities.
To address this issue and the problems manifested in this State, a summit was convened by Local Government in Tamworth on the shortage of rural doctors and other health professionals. It drew together representatives from various medical groups, colleges, Councils and other spheres of government to discuss solutions to the problem in country areas.
The key concerns of Local Government are rural health finances, country lifestyle, education and support, as well as options and strategies for rural recruitment.
We are calling on the Government to put significant funding and resources into training more doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.
Artificial constraints by various medical organisations to restrict the numbers trained must be tossed out immediately.
This limit imposed by the influences of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), medical colleges and others on the number of places in training schools is promoting pure self interest, not meeting our community needs.
The medical profession needs to let the market dictate the number of places available to allow more qualified practitioners into the system. The myth that you have to have the brains of a rocket scientist to be a doctor is simply not true.
A considerable number of university graduates across many disciplines could complete the qualifying Bachelor courses if places were available. The high entry points are related to lack of places not ability indexes.
It is also complete nonsense that there is an oversupply of doctors in Sydney and other capital cities. There is an under supply of medical practitioners across the board. Have a look at the earning capacities – and I mean the real figures!
In fact, there is a worldwide shortage and we should not be poaching doctors from countries where their skills are desperately required, but must increase our own, rapidly shrinking pool.
Local Government supports the creation of large medical schools in regional centres. Having modern, research driven medical schools would also ensure excellent, state of the art clinical services for rural areas.
The Federal Government should follow the example of an impoverished nation like Cuba, where they have recognised the importance of local doctors and nurses and are committing their resources to training them.
They are even sending teams into other central and south American countries as aid.
This from a country suffering economically from the illegal economic blockade imposed by the US Government. Meanwhile, our Government is approving the reduction of university places for nursing students.
It is also our belief that indemnity insurance is crippling specialists. Reform to tort law is long overdue.
Another reality facing small communities is that their GPs are ageing. We are left with a situation where if they are replaced at all after retirement, younger doctors are unable to perform the same functions as they are no longer taught certain specialised skills. The curriculum for general practice needs to be seriously reviewed.
Further, Local Government recommends inducements need to be better coordinated. There needs to be systemic approach to encouraging young health professionals to work in rural and remote areas
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It is important that local communities encourage their school leavers to study in health related fields and provide them with incentives to return home.
Local Government would like to see more dedicated places made available to rural students in medical related courses.
Federal and State Governments must work with Local Government to stop the triplication of efforts. A more streamlined process would ensure that money and resources are not wasted and that services are delivered to the community in the most efficient manner.
Governments have to work together to ensure that this crisis is resolved. The solution requires a shift in emphasis towards regional health by all parties involved in the provision of healthcare services.
Let’s not forget, Local Government has a crucial role to play in using our lobbying base towards this end. The closed shop of the medical fraternity must be obliterated to achieve this.
