Are you a doctor working in a regional, rural or remote area? This is your chance to shape the future of healthcare outside metropolitan areas.
The AMA is asking doctors working in regional, rural and remote areas to take part in the triennial Rural Health Issues Survey to help improve health outcomes for practitioners and patients.
AMA(WA) Rural Doctors Group Chair Dr Patrick Glackin, who is based in Albany, said the survey would help ensure rural voices were heard on crucial issues ahead of the federal and WA state elections.
“It’s a great job. I really enjoy it. And many of my colleagues find it richly fulfilling,” he told Medical Forum.
“However, we could definitely have more supports to help with recruitment, to help with retention.
“We know that in many parts of rural WA, there’s a real issue with patients being able to access general practice and also being able to access care in their local hospitals.”
Dr Glackin said if doctors did some training in regional areas, they were more likely to stay on or return to work as rural doctors.
However, he said rural training places were limited, and it was often difficult to ensure there was enough revenue at a private practice to take on trainee doctors and support existing employees.
He said a centralised government funding model, similar to the single employer pathway in NSW, would cover a doctor’s entire training journey and ease the burden on private practice.
“It employs you all the way through your registrar training including for your general practice component,” Dr Glackin said.
“That means you can preserve all your benefits, you preserve your study leave, your sick pay and you’ve also got a predictable income.”
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AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen encouraged all rural doctors to take part in the survey.
“Working as a rural doctor can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but it comes with its own unique challenges,” Dr McMullen said.
“Workforce shortages, infrastructure issues, the challenge of distance, and higher incidences of major illnesses among the population are all issues our rural doctors deal with every day.
“The AMA has been calling for dedicated strategies and investments to support our rural workforce for years.
“We want rural doctors to share their experiences with us and tell us what the priorities should be ahead of the federal election. We will use the results of the survey to ensure rural health is on the agenda of all politicians.”
Dr Glackin, who was a London-based GP for 20 years before moving to Australia, said he preferred to work rural for the lifestyle and because it required him to use a wide range of medical skills.
“It really keeps me energised,” he said.
“When I’m working as a country doctor, especially when you’ve got admission rates into the hospital and when you’ve got a place on the emergency department roster, you’re just spending so much more of your time working right up near the top of your scope of practice.”
The 2025 Rural Health Issues Survey is open to all doctors practising in regional, rural or remote Australia, as well as doctors who have previously worked in those areas.
The survey, which has been conducted every three years since 2016, will close on 19 February. You can have your say here.
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