Rural Doctors Have Their Say on How to Fix Rural Health Services - AMA Rural Health Issues Survey 2007
Better resources for rural hospitals and consistent national assessment for overseas trained doctors (OTDs) were the two most pressing issues identified by rural doctors in a groundbreaking new national survey released today by the AMA.
AMA President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said that the AMA's Rural Health Issues Survey provides policymakers with a clear action plan for better rural health care.
"Hospital closures, outdated equipment, long working hours, a continuing reliance on OTDs, and insufficient funding are all issues that were raised by the survey respondents again and again," Dr Haikerwal said.
"It is clear from the survey that in many respects rural doctors simply need more support to do their work and look after the health of their communities."
In the first extensive national survey of its type in Australia, the AMA asked general practitioners, other specialists, salaried doctors, and junior doctors working in rural Australia to rate the importance of 25 different policy proposals to improve rural health care. They were asked to describe the most rewarding aspects of rural medical practice and to suggest how they would go about fixing rural health.
"Extra funding and improved staffing levels at rural hospitals were top priorities named by all groups of doctors," Dr Haikerwal said.
"That was followed closely by the introduction of credible, nationally consistent processes of assessment and support for OTDs."
Better funding for rural locums, updating equipment in rural hospitals, and improved support and opportunities for doctors in training also were identified as priorities. Many doctors responded that their own health was starting to suffer due to low staffing levels at hospitals and the unavailability of GP locums.
"It is really hard to get a holiday. I will probably retire early to save my health," wrote one respondent.
"The worst thing is the hours and the fact that you can't walk away - I am the emergency doctor so I suffer consequences of any work that I don't stay late to get done," said another.
Dr Haikerwal said the survey was a clear indication to Australian governments that support for rural health practitioners must improve dramatically.
"If the health of rural doctors suffers, so too does the health of their patients and the health of their communities," he said.
"In an election year, policymakers cannot ignore the stories of these dedicated and passionate doctors."
To view the AMA Rural Health Issues Survey 2007 follow the link.