DPA changes ‘take doctors away from rural areas’ The Federal Government says its plan to expand Distribution Priority Areas has ‘no losers’, but the RACGP Rural Chair disagrees.
Bill targeting rural GP shortage stalls The Federal ‘Doctors for the Bush’ private bill proposed a reversal to changes in Distribution Priority Area settings.
‘More towns without a doctor’: Increase in GPs moving from rural areas Recent rule changes have exacerbated pressure on remote general practice, underlining the need for urgent reform, according to RACGP Rural Chair Dr Michael Clements.
DPA change making rural GP recruitment harder With much of Australia now classified as a priority area for doctors, rural health leaders say they are already noticing a rise in pressures on recruitment.
‘Doctors will move from remote areas’: DPA change under fire In light of the policy shift, the RACGP’s Rural Chair has urged government to expedite measures to address the broader GP workforce crisis.
New recourse for GPs to appeal DPA status The DoH says the change will better allow rural and regional areas to respond to workforce and population changes affecting general practice.