Hat in the ring: Rob Priestly will contest the next federal election in the seat of Nicholls running as an independent.
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Rodney Braithwaite
As part of our ongoing federal election coverage, TheCourier has conducted a survey of all Nicholls candidates on topical issues in Cobram.
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We asked each candidate the same questions on this weeks’s topic, medical care:
• Residents have reported waiting one-three weeks for a GP visit or being turned away altogether/told clinics are not taking on new patients, how do you propose to improve access and availability in Cobram?
• Some patients are being forced to travel to Shepparton or further for appointments, do you plan to encourage more GPs and specialists to practice in Cobram? How do you plan to do this?
Rob Priestly, Independent
I’m really concerned about poor GP access across our region and Cobram seems to be experiencing the most severe shortages. In talking to local medical professionals I’m shocked to hear that what we’re seeing now is about to get a lot worse. Remaining doctors are leaving at a much faster rate than the available pipeline to replace them. The crisis has been building for many years and there has been no plan to fix it.
There are enough GPs in Australia, but they aren’t where they need to be. We need immediate incentives to attract doctors here. Currently, it doesn’t stack up financially for them to come here. The government has the power to change this and I’ll be making this a top priority if elected.
In the longer term, we need to do better to train and retain locals to go into general practice. This has started, but in numbers too low. Further investment is required.
Nationals: Sam Birrell is the Nationals candidate for Nicholls in the upcoming federal election.
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Tara Whitsed
Sam Birrell, Nationals
The main issue is the number of general practitioners in regional areas across northern Victoria. There is not a quick fix. We need to train more regional young people to be regional doctors to provide a long-term solution. That is what we are doing with the Murray-Darling Medical School.
The school will offer a three-year Bachelor of Biomedical Science in regional Victoria and a four-year postgraduate degree in medicine based in Shepparton. This will result in 30 new graduates each year who have put down roots in the Goulburn Valley and will work regionally, including in Cobram. The Murray-Darling Medical School is a great initiative thanks to the Nationals in government. Research shows that people who study in the regions are more likely to stay in the regions. With more doctors delivering high quality care across our region, we will see residents within Cobram receive the care they need when they need it.
LIberal: Steve Brooks of the Liberal party is running for the seat of Nicholls in the upcomign election.
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Steve Brooks, Liberal
The rapid increase in our local population has shone a light on the issue of GP shortages, and I have listened to Cobram locals on this critical issue. Former Liberal member Sharman Stone set up the Rural Clinical School of Melbourne University in Shepparton which can now train regional GPs from start to finish. This obviously takes time (seven years) however NCN Health Chief Jacque Phillips advised me that 60 per cent of those GPs remain in our region, including Cobram. Skilled overseas doctors also have a role to play. The Liberal government has increased funding to the Stronger Rural Health Strategy where the aim is to deliver 3000 more doctors and 3000 more nurses and allied health professionals over 10 years. This program has already attracted 1300 GPs, 1200 nurses and 2500 allied health professionals so far. Telehealth and improved bulk billing will also assist in GP access and affordability.
Jeff Davy, Citizens Party
Without a serious intention by government to address the crisis, the situation will deteriorate further. These problems are systemic throughout all of rural and regional Australia. The Citizens Party would immediately mobilise a dramatic increase in GPs, paramedics and nurses, as well as all other aspects of the public healthcare system, including ambulance services, public hospitals, mental health, disability services and aged care. We would provide incentives for young people to enter the health sector by paying trainee nurses during their hospital placements, by increasing pay and conditions for aged care nurses, and we would attract GPs to rural areas by extinguishing their HECS debts and provision of accommodation and transport incentives, provided they stay for a minimum of five years. Funding for the education and expansion of this essential workforce, and the necessary hard infrastructure, would be provided through a government-owned public bank.
The Courier contacted the Labor Party, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens, the Fusion party, the United Australia Party and One Nation for comment but they did not respond in time for publication deadline.
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