Senate inquiry into regional GP shortages in Whyalla today

Joint media release with Senator Deborah O’Neill, Labor Senator for New South Wales

The Senate inquiry into doctor shortages in remote and regional Australia is sitting in Whyalla today at the Alexander Motel.

 A number of local organisations are appearing at the hearings including the Goyder and Kimba councils, Nganampa Health Council, Streaky Bay Medical Clinic, and Northern Eyre Peninsula Health Alliance.

 Doctor shortages are particularly severe in the Upper Spencer Gulf, across the Yorke and Eyre peninsulas and in the Outback.

 Meanwhile, out-of-pocket expenses for GP visits are higher in the federal Grey electorate than anywhere else in the State.

 Labor wants to ensure people living in Grey have their voices heard and are part of the national solution to this crisis.

 A recent community survey on GP access across Grey unearthed a number of disturbing stories from people unable to access basic health services.

 The survey revealed:

·         many towns don’t have a resident GP

·         patients have to wait too long for an appointment

·         health conditions are worsening due to delays

·         the lack of RATs is limiting face-to-face visits

·         people are driving Adelaide just to access a GP

 A total of 84 per cent of respondents said they had difficulty accessing a GP in the past 12 months. The highest number of responses to the survey were from Cowell (10%), Whyalla (9%) and Wudinna (8%).

 Last month, Liberal MP for Grey, Rowan Ramsey, told ABC radio that GP shortages in his electorate were akin to “third world conditions”. Mr Ramsey then claimed, “we are overtraining doctors in Australia, we’ve got more doctors than we need."