SOS for doctors

By Tania Martin
BELGRAVE’S only remaining senior doctor has said that the GP shortages in the Hills was a symptom of the disintegration of the general practice as a profession.
Doctor John Gyorki from the Belgrave Surgicentre said there was also an urgent need to attract more doctors to the area following the recent closure of a nearby practice.
In May Belgrave Health Care owner Dr Steve McKernan closed his practice so he could join a new 10-doctor medical centre in Narre Warren.
The Eastern Ranges GP Association (ERGPA) has said the doctor shortage in the Hills was now reaching a crisis point after Emerald Medical Centre recently lost one of its doctors and was forced to close its doors to all new patients.
ERGPA chief executive Kristin Michaels said the association has called for the Federal Government to change the regions current Rural, Regional and Metropolitan (RRMA) 1 classification rating as it doesn’t reflect the social and economic condition of Hills residents.
Ms Michaels said the RRMA classification 1 is a metropolitan rating and is equal to areas such as Toorak or Richmond.
Dr Gyorki said the doctor shortage in the Hill does not only affect the number of GPs in the area but the quality of care that patients are receiving.
“To tell you the truth, the last five or 10 years I’m working at practically 100 per cent capacity, so I can’t work with 110 per cent capacity.
“Once you are full you are full,” he said.
Dr Gyorki also said he was only able to accept new patients when there was a space in his schedule.
Ms Michaels said Hills practices are calling for the Government to upgrade the classification to RRMA five, similar to the Yarra Valley.
Ms Michaels said four overseas trained doctors have been appointed to Yarra Valley practices since the region was regraded from RRMA 1, which is classified as metropolitan, to RRMA five, which is considered to be rural.
She said overseas trained doctors are only able to be appointed in rural areas which are equivalent to RRMA five or higher classified areas.
Ms Michaels said the Dandenong Ranges RRMA 1 classification meant that GPs were unable to employ any overseas doctors because the Hills aren’t considered a rural area.
Dr Gyorki said that changing the RRMA classification would have an immediate effect.
“I think the health authorities have a lot to answer for regarding the RRMA rating and for allowing the present crisis to develop,” he said.
Dr Gyorki said he has tried and failed many times to attract new doctors to his practice.
“I’m continuously advertising and for the past five years have placed advertisements in two of the most widely read GP journals every week and I still couldn’t get another doctor here,” he said.
Dr Gyorki said he needs at least one doctor immediately to ease the patient load, but would also like another part-time GP.
Liberal candidate for Gembrook Simon Wildes has blamed the State Government for the doctor shortages in the Hills.
However, both Monbulk MP James Merlino and Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato said that it was the Federal Government’s job to regulate GP services.
Ms Lobato said she has been actively lobbying for extra GPs to be placed within the Hills and surrounding areas.
Meanwhile, La Trobe MP Jason Wood said he was aware of the doctor shortages in the Hills and has discussed the issue with both Prime Minister’s office and Health Minister Tony Abbott.
“I have told them how much stress the doctors in the Hills are under and that it was urgent that more doctors be attracted to the area.”
Mr Wood has also given the health minister an application from the ERGPA calling for the RRMA classification to be changed.
In addition, Mr Wood said he was hoping to put a proposal to the Government to build a one-stop-shop in Belgrave or Upwey-Tecoma.
He said these proposed facilities would be shared between doctors and federal money would be used for equipment and facilities.