Rural health plan needs flexibility: Coulton

Mr Coulton was in SA last week, meeting with SA Health Minister Stephen Wade and travelling with Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey.

Along the way, he held a number of roundtables with councillors and medicos about some of their region's specific issues.

"Every meeting we've had, we've heard slightly different angles, suggesting a slightly different focus," he said.

"It will be useful when forming what policies to put in place. What works in Port Augusta, might not work in Cummins."

Mr Coulton said there had been progress in recent years, with a number of new places assigned for a Rural Generalist Pathway.

In SA, 125 GP registrars are working in regional areas through training service GPEx, including new recruits joining in recent weeks, which is a 16 per cent lift on the 2020 figures.

Trainee registrars made up about one-quarter of SA's rural medical workforce.

GPEx chief executive office Stephanie Clota agreed there had been improvements in recent years in the movement of staff into rural areas.

"Amid the well documented shortage of doctors, our registrars are an important component of SA's rural health workforce and we understand that the placement and distribution of these doctors really matters to the communities we serve," she said.

"We're working on different models of training including roving registrars and remote supervision models to create positive experiences while addressing critical workforce needs.

"Our research shows that positive exposure to General Practice and quality placement experiences play a key role in attracting and retaining rural GPs.

"For every 10-week increase in rural training duration, graduates are 35pc more likely to practise rurally.

"We continue to work collaboratively with the profession, colleges, government and other stakeholders to provide a supported and clear pathway to the specialty of General Practice for SA's next generation of GPs and rural GPs."

There has also been a look at alternative methods, such as two new trainees taking up roles on Eyre Peninsula earlier this month, with their training to be carried out through the Remote Vocational Training Scheme.

This came about through a collaboration between the RVTS and the Rural Doctors Workforce Association, with assistance from various local councils, Commonwealth and state government.

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RDWA CEO Lyn Poole said these two GP registrars would have the opportunity to gain their GP Fellowship and remain in the same practice throughout their training.

"GP trainees in regional or remote areas gain a unique experience that allows them to further their studies while providing clinical services for locals closer to home," she said.

"Programs such as these are an important way to secure the workforce needed for the future of rural health, while offering a great training opportunity and invaluable hands-on experience in clinical practice."

RVTS CEO Pat Giddings, said the training scheme came through a federal government initiative, working alongside RVTS, which has 20 years experience in the field.

"There are significant benefits to the doctors, who get to stay in the one place while they do their training, while the community reaps the benefit from having a skilled doctor in an area where it may be difficult to retain or attract a medical workforce," he said.

Mr Coulton said a response from all levels of government was important to get the right outcome.

But while he said there was some good signs for the long-term, there were still some concerns in the short-term.

"Going around, a number of the doctors we're speaking with are in their 70s so we need to work with the state to come up with short-term solutions so we don't lose service," he said.

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