Doctors bombard Rudd’s rural blog

DESPERATE to air their grievances about the state of healthcare, doctors are heading to the top, bypassing Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon and instead contacting the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.

The RDAA has encouraged rural doctors to take full advantage of Mr Rudd’s remote and rural healthcare system blog website, which seeks feedback on workforce issues and the Government’s health reform agenda.

NSW South Coast GP Dr Brett Thomson, one of the rural doctors who have flooded Mr Rudd’s website, said GPs felt their views were being ignored in the Government’s push for health reform.

“I feel the consultation process is a mere formality, and GPs are being demonised,” Dr Thomson told MO.

“[Mr Rudd’s blog is] a good opportunity to write something, and there’s a good chance he will read it,” he said.

Other bloggers wrote to Mr Rudd echoing recent GP concerns regarding the expanded role of nurse practitioners in general practice (MO, 4 September), while others called for better planning and incentives to support rural Australia’s dwindling workforce.

RDAA CEO Steve Sant also welcomed the chance to vent his thoughts to the Prime Minister, and told him that he and Ms Roxon were ill informed on grassroots concerns.

Mr Sant said Mr Rudd should prove his interest in country health by confirming he would attend the association’s annual conference with ACRRM next month.

To read the PM's blog on remote and rural health, click here