Shortages of GPs and other health services in regional SA are at crisis levels.
For too long, rural and regional areas have struggled to attract the medical professionals they need.
This isn’t just an inconvenience - this crisis is having real and serious impacts on people’s health.
I’m committed to ensuring your experiences are heard, and to finding solutions to this crisis.
The Issue
For many years, people in rural and regional areas have faced shortages of general practitioners and other vital health services.
Towns like Kimba, Cowell, Peterborough and Wudinna don’t have a permanent GP at all. Others only have one, or are fearing the worst as their GP nears retirement.
This means people in many communities are having to travel long distances to see a GP, or explain their medical history to a different locum doctor every time.
People’s health and wellbeing is suffering as a result of this crisis. People are telling me that they’ve not been able to access timely healthcare, or have suffered from lack of continuity of care.
Sadly, this crisis is only worsening.
This is a complex problem. There’s no easy answer to the lack of GPs wanting to move to regional SA.
As a Senator, one of my key focuses has been trying to find new solutions to this challenge.
One thing I’ve heard loud and clear is that the answer isn’t money alone.
We need to help GPs feel they are part of the community. We need to ensure they can access housing and childcare and other essential services. And we need to address the structural problems that make a 24/7 job as a country GP less attractive.
There’s a supply problem, too. Evidence shows that less medical students are choosing a GP pathway than ever before - making this challenge even harder.
I’m working hard to listen to the community and the experts, so that we can find new solutions.
More than 200 South Australians responded to my survey about GP shortages in regional SA. In March 2022, we brought the Senate’s inquiry into health access to Whyalla to hear local experiences. And I’ve met with doctors, patients, mayors and many others to hear their perspectives.
Across SA, communities are trying innovative ideas to attract GPs and help them succeed.
Together, we can fix this crisis and ensure every South Australian can access good primary health services.
Because every person should be able to see a doctor when they need to.
Upgrade a turning point.
On April 3 2023, I had the great honour of representing, Federal Health Minister, Mark Butler in a Health Roundtable with key healthcare workers, Regional Development Australia Eyre Peninsula, and local Government leaders from the Eyre Peninsula.
This was followed by opening of renovated Cr Leo J Schaefer Memorial Health Centre.
Canberra comes to Whyalla.
On 1 March 2022, the Senate’s inquiry into GP access and other primary health services came to Whyalla.
Senators from around the country heard evidence from local doctors, academics, councils and others about the situation in rural and regional SA. And they were shocked by what they heard.
The inquiry reported its findings in July 2022 - and I have been working hard to ensure it recommends changes that will help South Austraila.
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