Morisset-Cooranbong GP catchment area now a Distribution Priority Area following application by Ochre Medical Centre Bonnells Bay to exceptional circumstances review

The area is now classified as a Distribution Priority Area following an application by Ochre Medical Centre Bonnells Bay to the Federal government's "exceptional circumstances" review.

The DPA classification identifies regions where people find it harder to see a doctor, based on the needs of the community.

Ochre group lead recruiter Katitia Cortes said the catchment was classified as metro, which limited the pool of doctors that are able to get a Medicare provider number.

"This creates a slightly bigger pool for general practitioners that have a fellowship, but may have got their degree outside Australia. They are usually restricted by a 10 year moratorium, meaning they have to go rural or regional."

Ms Cortes said in the past two years the practice had lost five permanent doctors due to relocation. With the number of doctors specialising in general practice dropping 20 per cent a year, an aging workforce and Lake Macquarie not being a major city, she said it was growing harder to recruit.

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A resident of Wangi Wangi herself, Ms Cortes said she had seen firsthand the effect the shortages were having, with local practices not taking on new patients and less GP services meaning more ED presentations.

"This change gives local GP practices a larger pool of doctors to recruit from which should make it easier for clinics such as Ochre Medical Centre Bonnells Bay, and now all others in the region, to secure more doctors," Nationals Patron Senator for the Hunter Region Perin Davey said.

"Although the classification is updated each year, several medical practices in this area indicated they had been hit by sudden and unexpected changes and unmet demand during the pandemic period and had found it especially difficult to recruit doctors to the area.

"It is also welcoming to see that other medical practices in the Hunter region have been successful in having their catchment reclassified under the exceptional circumstances review process including Singleton, Cessnock and Maitland."

Federal Regional Health Minister David Gillespie said he set up the review process to ensure an area's DPA status was based on contemporaneous information, supported vulnerable patients and responded to workforce and population changes.

The classification will be in place until June 30, but Ms Cortes said they would be lobbying Minister Gillespie to make it more permanent.

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