Doctor shortage worsens in WA

as posted on PerthNow



Anthony DeCeglie, health reporter

September 19, 2008 10:00pm

PERTH inner suburbs, such as Northbridge and Mt Lawley, are no longer immune from the doctor shortage troubling the rest of the state.
Latest figures prepared for the Australian General Practice Network -- comparing the ratio of residents to GPs across health districts -- reveal a worsening shortage of doctors generally.

In the Perth district, South Perth, Morley and Dianella had only one GP for every 1336 residents, compared with the recognised benchmark of 1:1100.

Joondalup, Osborne Park and Ocean Reef had one GP for every 1364 residents, Armadale and Gosnells 1:1479 and Rockingham and Kwinana 1:1663.

Royal Australian College of GPs national president Vasantha Preetham, who operates two Perth practices, said figures for the Perth district could be even worse because many fly-in, fly-out workers were not counted as residents.

The worst district was the Pilbara, with one GP for every 2559 residents _ up from 2285 a year ago. The Kimberley did not fare much better, with 1:2202.

Peppermint Grove, Subiaco and Leederville fared best with 1:1023.

Because of the shortage, the traditional ``check-up'' is becoming a thing of the past.

Australian Medical Association vice-president Steve Wilson said: ``The care people need, such as a prostate check, pap smear or mammogram, are part of the check-up. There is a danger ... some of that stuff may fall off the radar.''

Dr Wilson said WA needed up to 600 more doctors.

``We need more training places,'' he said. ``The government has not increased the number of training places significantly now for years.''

He called for better funding for general practices to improve infrastructure and the delivery of services.

Health Consumers' Council acting executive director Maxine Drake said it was time to radically reform general practice medicine.

``There's a lot of favour among consumers for using advanced-skilled nurses in general practices,'' she said.

``A lot of people recognise there are minor issues they need to consult about, but they don't necessarily need to see a GP.''


as posted on PerthNow