THE ACT Opposition yesterday said the ACT was losing GPs, and today the Government is saying there’s more – but who to believe?
In a press release yesterday, the Liberals referred to a report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare that showed the ACT lost 249, or 13.1 per cent, of its medical practitioner workforce between 2009 and 2010, compared to NSW’s 0.9 per cent.
However today the Chief Minister Katy Gallagher released the results of her own survey which showed that about 70 per cent of GPs were taking on new patients.
“I have been hearing anecdotally, that there has been an improvement in local GPs taking on new clients and an increase in GP numbers,” the Chief Minister said.
The survey, conducted by the Chief Minister’s office surveyed all the local GP clinics on whether they were accepting new patients and whether of not they bulk billed.
“It is difficult to get exact data on GP capacity and so I would like further work done in collaboration with Medicare Local to look at things like the age profile of GPs, their future intentions, numbers of new recruits, ANU Graduates, migration and expected retirements,” the Chief Minister said.
To view the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report visit: http://www.aihw.gov.au/
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