The pandemic has increased pressure on remote and rural GP’s due to a growing struggle to find doctors to take their place.
Richard Collbran, chief executive officer of the NSW rural doctors’ network, says the role of rural generalists are “gold” but there is a “major crisis” in the number of these doctor’s practicing.
10 years ago, there were approximately 800 of these rural generalists which now sits at just 200.
Colbran says the issue is not exclusive to supply, but the “science” of finding the right health workforce for each specific town.
In the meantime, there is a significant challenge in providing health services to remote communities.