CANBERRA’S GP shortage has eased, according to a report released today by Chief Minister and Minister for Health Katy Gallagher and ACT Medicare Local chair Dr Rashmi Sharma.

“With 400 GPs in the ACT, we are now on par with the last recorded national average of 1 GP for every 893 people, demonstrating an easing of workforce pressures, which is good news for the Canberra community,” Ms Gallagher says.

“It is particularly pleasing to note that 88 per cent of practices report they are taking on new patients and GP numbers have increased overall in the Territory.”

The Chief Minister links the improved access to primary care with the Government’s investments in the Education Infrastructure Support Grants Payment, the GP Scholarships Program, the GP Development Fund, the GP Aged Day Service and the Prevocational GP Placement Program.

Dr Sharma says ACT Medicare Local and the ACT Government jointly address GP workforce shortages by employing a Marketing and Support Advisor to “motivate and inspire” potential GPs to think about working in Canberra.

“Since 2008, the program has attracted 51 GPs to take up a position in Canberra through a recruitment marketing campaign,” she says. “ACTML also formed a partnership with ACT Government’s ‘Canberra your future’ team, who promoted GP vacancies at international and national employment expos.”

However the key to a healthy local GP workforce is “growing our own GPs”, according to Dr Sharma, which means local general practices need to keep supporting undergraduate ANU Medical School students and graduates by offering experience in general practice.