SA: Doctor shortage looming: RACGP

AAP General News (Australia)
08-20-2000
SA: Doctor shortage looming: RACGP

ADELAIDE, Aug 20 AAP - A shortage of general practitioners will hit South Australia
in the next 10 years and cost lives, doctors warned today.

At least six more training places were needed to maintain the state's general practice
workforce and address an "alarming" shortfall, the Royal Australian College of General
Practitioners (RACGP) said in a statement.

The state would have 31 fewer GPs in 10 years because of a gap between the number of
doctors retiring and those completing the federal government's training program, the college's
South Australian and Northern Territory faculty chair Dr David Tye said.

"The upcoming GP crisis raises quality of health care issues for all South Australians,"

Dr Tye said.

"The waiting game that plagues hospitals is spreading to doctors' surgeries and it
will cost lives."

AAP tj/cdh

KEYWORD: SHORTAGE

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