EMMA MCBRIDE MP
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR CARERS
MEMBER FOR DOBELL

SENATE INQUIRY TO INVESTIGATE GP SHORTAGE ON THE COAST

The acute GP shortage on the Central Coast will now be subject to a Senate Inquiry.

Labor ignited calls for an inquiry yesterday, in a bid to investigate the critical lack of doctors across regional and rural Australia.

That inquiry has now been approved.

“This is good news for people on the north end of the Coast,” Federal Member for Dobell, Emma McBride said.

“Our region is in the midst of a GP crisis. Practices are closing their books and locals are being forced to wait weeks for routine appointments.

“This inquiry will now be able to investigate why our region is missing out on more GPs and come up with practical solutions to fix it.”

Under the Government’s current system, most of the Coast is classified as a non-Distribution Priority Area (DPA) which means it’s difficult for local practices to access GPs.

The Senate Inquiry will examine GP shortages in regional and rural areas like the Coast, reforms to the DPA classification system, and GP training.

“I’ve been campaigning on this for a long time now,” Ms. McBride said.

“I have written to the Health Minister on multiple occasions, urging him to recognise our region as a priority but my calls have largely fallen on deaf ears.

“At a time when our community is in lockdown and facing a COVID outbreak, it’s more important than ever to have access to GPs which is why this inquiry is crucial.

“People in my community can now finally look forward to some answers.”

You can make a submission to the inquiry here: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/OnlineSubmission

THURSDAY 5 AUGUST, 2021