A Federal Government decision to exclude most of the Blue Mountains from being a priority area for GPs has led to a primary health care crisis, local doctors have told Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman.

Representatives from Katoomba Medical Practice met with Ms Templeman earlier this month, to highlight their concerns about chronic shortages caused by a lack of incentives, training and support for both GPs and practice nurses.

“The Morrison Government reclassified most of the Mountains and Hawkesbury in 2019, which meant it’s harder for areas east of Blackheath to attract GPs,” Ms Templeman said.

“Previously, local practices have been able to recruit and retain doctors and nurses, and attract students from various medical disciplines.”

Dr Aman Rana says the shortage is causing delays for patients and stretching doctors and their teams to breaking point.

“We miss out on doctors wanting to move to regional areas because we aren’t regional. If we were, it would have a positive impact on both the current workforce and the future workforce,” Dr Rana said.

“It’s a struggle to find registrars to come here, as the area shares the same zoning as metropolitan Sydney.”

Zoning also hinders efforts to attract students from regional medical and nursing schools, he said. 

“While some of our local doctors and nurses are getting to the age where they are considering retiring, others are simply burning out. And the simple fact is, none of them are being replaced,” Dr Rana said.

Dr Rana and Dr Kathryn Gardiner say the increased workload caused by COVID had contributed to the problem. Governments were advising people to seek assistance from their GPs, but GPs were only finding out when they heard of changes through the media, with no additional support provided to practices to cope with extra workloads.

Nurses Jill Lennon and Belinda Wynn, who have carried the major brunt of vaccinating the local community, are fatigued 

“COVID has impacted an already stressed health system,” Ms Wynn said. “In the vaccine rollout we were never given a heads-up, we just heard about changes on the radio on the way into work. 

“While vaccinations required prioritisation, it was an added burden to maintain primary care services for an isolated community"

Dr Gardiner said GPs played a crucial role in everyday health care and they needed to be supported.

“GPs tend to be the one stable influence in a person’s health care. We bring that person-focused care, looking after physical, psychological and social wellbeing,” Dr Gardiner said.

Another issue highlighted in the discussion was the Blue Mountains being part of Nepean’s Primary Health Network (PHN). Dr Rana said it had reduced the PHN’s ability to deliver training opportunities and upskilling of the local workforce, as the majority of training is held in Nepean and Kingswood. 

Ms Templeman said the issue had come to a crisis point in the local area.

“The Morrison Government simply has not recognised the efforts of GP practices throughout COVID, particularly in areas like ours,” Ms Templeman said.

“What is the plan for local practices for boosters and the rollout for five to 11-year-olds?

“What’s the plan to deliver local mental health services, so people who need to access psychiatric services aren’t forced to travel to Bathurst, like they do now?

“This area needs to be reclassified as a matter of urgency to help our local GPs respond in the way they need to – fully supported and resourced to meet the needs of our community.”