SHORTAGES of GPs in regional areas will end up costing patients and taxpayers, pharmacist turned Federal MP, Emma McBride, warns.
Addressing the House of Representatives last week, McBride - the MP for Dobell on the NSW Central Coast - said a number of primary care providers in her constituency were struggling to attract and retain GPs.
"The Central Coast is a popular place for young families and older people to live, but it's also a place where GPs books are closed and patients are waiting weeks for routine appointments," she said.
"Yet the Central Coast is not classified by this government as a distribution priority area for GPs, which means that recruiting and retaining GPs in our region is tough."
McBride said the Central Coast Community Women's Health Centre has informed patients that from the end of this month it will not be able to offer any future appointments until they can recruit a new doctor.
"This shortage of GPs also impacts affordability," she said.
"Across Australia, out-of-pocket costs for GP appointments have increased by 37% since this Government came to office.
"This is being felt by many people in my community, especially those who can least afford it.
"Our community deserves better.
"As an MP and as a pharmacist, I'm calling on the Government to act now to review these classifications and to urgently improve access to primary care in communities like mine.
"If people don't have access to GPs, they end up in crisis in ED.
"The cost to them and to our health system is too much. It must change.
"The Government has to act now."
McBride noted that Central Coast GP, Dr Sachin Choudhary - who manages two practices in the region - had said the current classification model was "a farce", adding, "we are in crisis and we need help".
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