The Peninsula has welcomed two new GPs to the area following the completion of an incentive program aiming to redress the shortage of general practitioners in the region.
The two doctors will be based at Woy Woy and Ettalong respectively.
The program, led by the Hunter, New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network (PHN), has funded incentives to assist practices attract general practitioners, as well as offering grants to cover costs in the relocation of GPs.
Doctor Eugenia Xiao at Woy Woy’s Bluesky Medical Practice participated in the Bonded Medical Program which allows for entry into medical school under the condition graduated doctors then work in an area of workforce shortage.
Xiao said she would recommend the program to any budding doctors but would like to see more support and communication provided to students.
“We don’t really hear about it after you sign on, it’s a tick of the box, but it becomes relevant when you finish medical school and you’re training in your speciality and then deciding where you are going to work later,” Xiao said.
“We don’t know much about the program as we train, and it’s been quite difficult getting people to actually fulfil that contract which is what my experience was with friends.
“Being able to link people on this program with areas where there is a workforce shortage so that they can get more of an idea of what the job entails, what the area is like, and hear from other people who are working in those areas.
“I think all people would find it rewarding to go and work in a small community … I grew up in the city and trained there, and everywhere I went I had to commute an hour anyway.
“I thought having finished my training to swap that out, avoid the commute and live by the beach a few minutes from work and have the best work-life balance.
“When you do work in a small community it’s pretty rewarding as you can see the impact the work has on residents.”
Founder of Bluesky Medical, Dr Jeeve Samarasinghe, said he has experienced difficulties finding new doctors through the program.
“The problem is that they often don’t know where to go and we have no way of knowing who they are so it’s getting that communication link sorted,” Samarasinghe said.
“The PHN is one of the ways we might be able to do it but then again they have the issue of not knowing how to approach those bonded GPs.
“The issue now is about people once they are on the system – they have very little flexibility to go on holiday or to have cover.
“It’s now not just about recruiting in permanently; it’s about recruiting in a flexible way.
“We’ve got a pool of people ready in this country and we need to have the most efficient way of letting them know we’re here.”
Primary Care Improvement Manager for PHN, Brendan Chandler, said the PHN is aware of the communication issue and it is something they are working on.
“I think we could connect better … if there was a way we could communicate with the Department that looks after the Bonded students to say we are a PHN that has DPA available practices,” he said.
“We don’t get involved in the recruitment side of things, but we could connect doctors with a service that is looking for GPs.”
Under the program, nine new GPs have also been distributed to other areas of the Central Coast including in Erina, Kincumber, Mingara, The Entrance, Wyong, Tuggerah and Budgewoi.
Federal Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks, said the program is designed to deal with the challenge of attracting and retaining GPs to a peri-urban area like the Central Coast.
“The PHN have advised they should have 21 new GPs signed up [by the end of this financial year] as a result of the investment the Federal Government made for the Central Coast GP Workforce Incentive Fund,” Wicks said.
“This is going to go a long way to addressing the challenge – not just the GP shortages across the Coast – and it’s not a short-term solution, it’s a solution that means these GPs will really invest in a practice.
“The PHN through their website and other initiatives are really working to help drive GPs to choose the Central Coast as their place for a career, to work and live and raise their family, and become part of our community.”
Maisy Rae