Recommendations to GP training part of interim report on provision of GP services
The AMA was pleased to see the interim report on provision of GP services in rural and remote areas included a series of recommendations (Recommend 7,8, 9) to embed general practice in the medical school curricula and to provide more opportunities for doctors in training to be exposed to positive general practice training experience if we are to reverse the decline in interest in GP as a career.
The report highlights the need for employment reform for GPs in training (GPiTs). The AMA is calling for reforms to employment arrangements that deliver GPiTs equitable remuneration and employment conditions compared to their non-GPiT colleagues while meeting the needs of supervising practices.
We also support calls for a comprehensive and wholistic review of rural workforce programs, including their impact and evidence base (Recc 5).
The AMA has released its plan to support general practice, calling for extra funding to:
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Introduce medical homes to bolster coordinated, patient centred care
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Increase the time available to patients to spend with their GP to address complex healthcare concerns
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Encourage the provision of more GP services into after-hours
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Expand the number of nurse and allied health services available in general practices
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Bolster the GP care provided to aged care residents
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Create a wound consumables scheme, saving patients time and money
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Evolve our GP training program to make general practice more appealing to the next generation of doctors.
You can read more about this in the AMAs 2022 Federal Election Statement