The shortage of rural general practitioners in north-western New South Wales

The objective of this study was to provide the Tamworth Rural Training Unit with a clear understanding and practical strategic directions for contributing to an equitable distribution of rural general practitioners in the New England Area Health Service. A survey was sent to all 139 general practitioners practising in this region. The best and worst features of rural practice, both professionally and personally, were surveyed, as well as ways to attract more general practitioners to rural areas. It was found that this region required an additional 46 full-time general practitioners in 1995 if equity and social justice principles were to be met. Projecting to the year 2005, the total shortfall of full-time general practitioners in the New England Area Health Service amounts to 90. It is recommended that this critical shortage of rural general practitioners be assessed within two distinct time frames, namely short-term strategies (1996-1998) and medium-term strategies (1999-2005).