More support needed to train the next generation of family doctors
AMA Family Doctor Week 18-24 July 2011
AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today that greater Government support is needed for GP supervisors to train the record number of medical students and junior doctors that are training in general practice.
In 2010, the Government doubled the Prevocational General Practice Placements Program to grow to 975 places by 2013, and general practice training places to 1200 by 2014. Medical schools are also increasingly looking to provide medical students with clinical placements in general practice.
Dr Hambleton said the recent increases in general practice training places have meant that more medical students and junior doctors are being trained in general practice than ever before.
“The AMA has welcomed the investment by the Government into increasing general practice training places, but this investment must be backed by greater support for those GPs who are training the record numbers of medical students in general practice,” Dr Hambleton said.
“Our family doctors are highly trained and highly skilled. Most family doctors will have spent 10-15 years in training before they can receive formal qualification as a GP.
“Training the next generation of family doctors takes time and commitment.
“GP supervisors are often forced to spend less time with their own patients as they devote extra time and resources to training medical students and junior doctors.
“There are also extra IT, equipment and other facility costs associated with training family doctors, which puts greater pressure on resource-poor general practices.
“The Government needs to improve existing incentives and structures in general practice training, and expand the support available for investment in infrastructure such as training rooms and IT.
“These measures will encourage more GPs to become supervisors and ease the strain on our family doctors and general practices.
“Giving greater assistance to GP supervisors means they can continue to provide excellent health care to Australians and quality training to our future family doctors,” Dr Hambleton said.
The AMA has released a video on its website profiling Canberra GP, Dr Caroline Luke, who is a passionate advocate for GP training and an educator and mentor for medical students and GP registrars. The video can be viewed at http://ama.com.au/familydoctorweek2011
19 July 2011
CONTACT: Geraldine Kurukchi 02 6270 5467 / 0427 209 753
Follow the AMA Media on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ama_media
Follow the AMA President on Twitter: http://twitter.com/amapresident
