In the space of three months three doctors will have retired from The Medical Practice leaving the town with just one doctor and a fulltime equivalent registrar.

Dungog Council has now come on board with financial assistance to attract a GP to the area.

Council also agreed to assist financially with housing accommodation for a period of time should the recruitment drive be successful.

Murrurundi recently secured a doctor for their community with the local council being the driving force.

It has been recommended council either provide a house or meet the rental costs for a period of time until a new doctor was settled and establish a small group of community-minded citizens to support the new doctor and family to become acquainted with the area, to meet with key people within the community and assist them with settling in.

With the recent merger of Dr Bill Holley’s practice into The Medical Practice there are now 7500 patients on their books.

Dr Duncan Dew advised there should be one doctor to 1500 patients.

“And in Sydney it is only 300 patients to one doctor,” he said.

“Myself and Dr Phil Jeffery (who recently retired from the practice) have been trying to recruit for three years now without success.

“But there is a lack of Federal Government incentives to attract doctors to rural areas, and until now, local government has not been supportive either.

“I am optimistic with council on board and supportive we will have success in recruiting.”

With now just the one medical practice in town, Dr Dew said people had to be patient in trying to get an appointment.

“They have to be aware of repeat prescriptions and plan ahead – don’t ring up on the day it runs out.

“We are working very hard to see all acute cases and it is not acceptable to be abusive to staff.”

At a recent meeting concerning the GP shortage, discussions were held with Hunter New England Health Service regarding the impact on Dungog Hospital.

Council general manager Craig Deasey said concern was raised that hospital staff were being diverted to attend the increased demand on outpatient services.

“Whilst access to GP services is difficult at present, members of the community should still attend the local doctor’s surgery,” Mr Deasey said.

“Attendance at outpatient’s services does not alleviate the pressure on GP services, and in fact, compounds the demands upon health services with the shire.”

Dr Dew has applied to the NSW Health for Dungog to be registered as an area of need and a district of workforce shortage.