Territorians deserve better access to high quality GP care

The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) is calling on the next Territory Government to invest in improving access to high quality general practice care in the NT by growing and supporting our GP workforce. 

RACGP NT Chair Dr Sam Heard said: “There is no substitute for the quality care you get from a GP who knows you and your medical history. 

"Access to high-quality GP care is particularly important in the Territory because we have a higher burden of chronic and complex disease, a harsh climate and living conditions. However, we have the lowest number of GPs per capita. 

“We’re calling on the next Territory Government to invest in improving access to general practice care by growing and supporting our GP workforce. GP care helps people stay healthy and out of hospital and will reduce pressure on the Territory’s hospitals.  

“Being a GP in the NT is incredibly rewarding, but it can also be challenging, which is why 79% of NT GPs report experiencing burnout, higher than the national average of 71%. This is why we’re calling for government funding for 6-weeks locum coverage for rural GPs, so they can afford a locum and have a break. Less burnout will ultimately mean more GPs on the ground caring for patients. 

“One of the challenges to recruiting and training GPs in remote Territory communities is the lack of safe and appropriate housing. That’s why we want the next Territory Government to repair existing housing, build new houses where needed, and ensure all accommodation is fit for use by GPs and registrars who care for patients in remote communities.   

“We also calling for the next government to fund incentive payments to help attract more junior doctors to move to the NT to train as GPs. These incentives work – we saw this in Victoria where there was a big increase in junior doctors entering GP training after their government introduced a $40,000 incentive.  

“A similar incentive will boost our workforce immediately, which is what we need because we can’t grow our own GPs fast enough to fill the gap in our workforce – we need to attract them from interstate. It will also help long term, because we know GPs who get a taste of training in the NT are more likely to stay.  

“The next government must also work to secure the future of general practice in the Territory by exempting independent GPs from payroll tax. While practices in Australia have always paid payroll tax on their employees, including receptionists and nurses, it never applied to GPs because they work independently. Changes to the application of this tax have threatened practice closures and bankruptcies in other jurisdictions. NT Health and the Aboriginal Community Controlled Sector are exempt from payroll tax. GPs provide the same essential care, so should get the same exemption. 

“It’s critical that our next government recognises high-quality general practice care as an essential service and invests in supporting and growing our GP workforce. We lost the last practices in Tennant Creek and Nhulunbuy, and we’ll lose more elsewhere if there isn’t action. 

“On the other hand, if we invest in general practice care, and ensuring all Territorians can see a GP regardless of where they live, we'll have a healthier population, and it’ll be a more attractive place to work, live and raise families – this is an investment that will pay off.”