Training more doctors ...
Verity has had trouble accessing a GP as the local provider is not taking on any new patients.
With an increase to the number of GPs, Verity can stop going to the emergency department for day‑to‑day care issues and develop a relationship with her new local GP for ongoing primary health care.
More funding for more doctors
The Government will invest $495 million over four years to fund more places on the Australian General Practice Training Program as well as increase the capacity of the already successful Pre‑vocational General Practice Placement Program. The Government will also be investing $145 million over four years in the training of record numbers of specialist doctors to ensure Australia will have the specialist workforce that it needs. Together, these initiatives will deliver:
- 1,375 more GPs practising or in training by 2013;
- 5,500 new GPs or GPs undergoing training in the next decade;
- 575 additional training places a year for junior doctors in general practice by 2012‑13; and
- 680 more specialist doctors in the next decade.
GP training places per year, 2004‑2014
