The Minister for Regional Health, David Gillespie’s claims that the Hunter region is “an area that has plenty of medical services” shows how disconnected from reality the Morrison-Joyce Government is.
Mr Gillespie made these comments yesterday in response to Labor’s commitment to fix the current GP shortage crisis by making the Hunter region a Distribution Priority Area (DPA), providing the whole region with access to the Bonded Medical Program and overseas trained doctors.
The Morrison-Joyce Government’s decision to reclassify our area as ‘metropolitan’ back in 2019 has made it harder than ever for local medical practices to recruit GPs.
If the Minister for Regional Health thinks we’ve got plenty of GPs, he should tell that to families who cannot find a medical practice accepting new patients.
He should tell that to other patients who can be waiting up to a month to see their doctor.
He should tell that to the 149 GP practices referenced by the Hunter Primary Network in their submission to the Labor-initiated Senate Inquiry into GP shortages who are no longer able to supplement their GP workforce with overseas trained doctors or bonded medical doctors from elsewhere in Australia.
Labor’s commitment is sensible and it is fair.
There are additional incentives for more rural and remote parts of Australia, and they should remain in place.
However it is unfair and wrong that the Morrison-Joyce Government has determined that it is as easy to recruit GPs to the Hunter as it is to Mosman.
In response to Labor’s announcement yesterday, Hunter GP Association representative Dr Fiona van Leeuwen described it as “a great leap forward, really recognising that previously when these workforce shortage categories were altered before, it took away vital services to our region. This thing will enable them to come back again.”
Mr Gillespie’s comments are an insult and slap in the face to local GPs and patients and shows how out of touch his Government is with the health needs of our community.
Only Labor can be trusted to protect and strengthen Medicare and to end the GP crisis in the Hunter region.