LONGER waiting lists will become a reality for Tailem Bend residents when two of the town’s three doctors are set to leave in February. It has been reported that the town will be left to operate with one general practitioner (GP) to service the population of 1457, plus surrounding areas. This doctor to patient ratio is over 300 more patients than what is recommended, according to figures provided by the Murray Mallee General Practice Network (MMGPN). Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the government would conduct an audit of the shortage of doctors, nurses and other health professionals in rural Australia. “We will examine the reasons for these shortages,” Mr Rudd said. “We will be asking the Department of Health and Ageing to provide us with a range of options for attracting and retaining health professionals in rural Australia.” Federal Member for Barker Patrick Secker said the shortages in rural areas were already known. “It’s always useful to know where the shortages are, but that information is already pretty clear,” Mr Secker said. “I would welcome any move to increase doctors into rural areas, we (the Liberals) have gone a long way to fixing that up, but it’s an ongoing problem.” Read more