A senate inquiry into GP shortages across regional and rural Australia has been announced, with submissions open to the public until late next month.
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The inquiry has been welcomed by Riverina politicians, as well as the Tumut Community Association (TCA).
The senate community affairs references committee is set to examine the state of GPs and related primary health services in outer metropolitan, regional and rural areas.
It will also consider government reforms and policies, geographical classification systems, GP training reforms and Medicare rebates.
The impact of COVID-19 on doctor shortages will also be considered.
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Eden-Monaro MP Kristy McBain said the inquiry is "really great news" for the region, arguing that the regional health network is "in crisis".
"Too many people are being forced to wait weeks to see a GP - if they can see a GP at all. And the problem is only getting worse," she said.
Ms McBain hopes the inquiry will investigate why Eden-Monaro is "particularly affected" by a lack of GPs, as well as propose practical solutions to deal with the issue.
Secretary of the TCA, Christine Webb, has long advocated for two full-time doctors at Tumut hospital, arguing that the GP on-call model can leave them burnt out.
"For years now it's been stated, and there is lot's of research out there, that shows GPs get burnt out because they're having to extend beyond what their original goal was in becoming a GP taking up primary healthcare," she said.
"There's many days each week when there isn't a doctor available to do the on-call."
Mrs Webb launched a petition as part of the TCA calling for two-full time doctors in Tumut, which has now garnered over 9000 signatures.
"The cost of employing those GPs on-call is easily going to cover the cost of a specialist doctor," she argued, hoping to see an anaesthetist employed in Tumut.
"An anaesthetist is seen as a specialist doctor, but they are a very basic need for having surgery and safe maternity."
In a statement, the Murrumbidgee Local Health District's executive director of medical services, Dr Len Bruce, said Tumut hospital has "full medical coverage" with a doctor on-call "at all times" and ten GP-VMO's contracted.
"There are currently two GP Anaesthetists contracted to provide services at Tumut Hospital," he said. "Anaesthetists from Wagga Wagga Base Hospital also support the surgeons."
Dr Bruce acknowledged that rural areas are experiencing workforce challenges due to COVID-19 and the related border changes and restrictions.
"Being flexible with medical workforce models allows [MLHD] to be more competitive in the 2021 workforce market by opening positions up to a much broader range of medical officers," he added.
The public can make written submissions to the senate inquiry online.
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