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A Victorian town's battle to recruit GPs highlights Australia's doctor shortage crisis
ABC NEWS (Australia)
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11/20/2023
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.
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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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