GP shortage in MidCoast and Dungog prompts grant program to recruit and retain doctors to rural, regional and remote areas

A chronic shortage of GPs in the MidCoast and Dungog areas has prompted the Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network (HNECC PHN) to offer grant funding of more than $100,000 in a bid to help recruit and retain doctors to the areas. Another $250,000 "Bush GP" grant scheme has been set up to attract GPs to general practices in the Upper Hunter and North West region.

PHN chief executive Richard Nankervis said the grants were "one of many" initiatives to address the maldistribution of the medical workforce and encourage doctors to work in more rural and remote communities.

"With this round of grant funding we are hoping that GP numbers in the MidCoast and Dungog areas will continue to grow," he said. "This is one element of what will need to be a range of initiatives to try to grow our medical and health workforce."

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Initial funding of $2,500 would be offered to help general practices recruit doctors via updating website jobs portals, producing recruitment videos or hiring recruitment agencies.

Stage two and three would provide three general practices with a further $25,000 in funding upon the signing of a new GP from outside the area on a two-year/minimum contract, and "welcome ambassador'' grants would also help relocated GPs and their families settle into the new town.

Mr Nankervis said the PHN recently funded a Sea Change program, designed to encourage GP relocation into NSW's Central Coast, which resulted in 37 practices receiving grants to assist with recruitment activities and an increase in doctors.

Dr Simon Holliday, a rural GP, conjoint lecturer for the University of Newcastle and staff specialist in drug and alcohol clinical services with Hunter New England Local Health, said he had found rural GP recruitment to be an "increasingly exhausting" process.

"Due to the number of government and professional bureaucracies involved, it may take months and months or even years to recruit a new GP, or even fail to do so," Dr Holliday said.

"These grants should provide some reimbursement for the costs involved including the inordinate amount of time, energy and hefty recruitment agency fees."

Dr Holliday said that for the recruits, the task of relocating and settling into a new community could be "daunting".

"The welcome ambassador grants will facilitate attracting and retaining GPs as well as reduce rural healthcare disparities," he said.

The Manning Region GP Grant funding is available to general practices in the Taree, Gloucester, Forster-Tuncurry and Dungog regions.

Professor Jennifer May, Director of University of Newcastle's Department of Rural Health, said while it was fundamental for any community to have enough doctors, it was even more pertinent for rural regions.

"We have experienced ongoing challenges in sustaining a rural health workforce," she said. "Although just one part of the complex jigsaw of support required, these grants are a welcome incentive to support GP practices in recruitment of GPs."

With the average GP caring for 1200 patients, the PHN anticipates the new recruits would provide care for more than 3600 locals.

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