Expand interns’ GP exposure

THE RACGP and ACRRM are campaigning to expand a program that gives interns a taste of general practice as part of their training.The Prevocational General Practice Placements Program (PGPPP) is being pushed in hospitals and at junior doctor events in the hope of attracting the future influx of medical students into general practice.

Under the program, prevocational doctors are able to carry out part of their training in general practice.

However, not all this year’s available placements have been filled, with 87 of the RACGP’s 117 placements and 126 of ACRRM’s 140 placements taken so far.

Since its introduction in 2004, 433 junior doctors have taken part in the program, with 56 practices registered nationwide.

Dr Morton Rawlin, RACGP director of educational services, said there had been issues getting junior doctors into the program.

“It’s always been a problem for general practice and general practice training that junior doctors tend to get lost in those early hospital years... but we are now much better placed to take everyone who wants to participate,” he said.

ACRRM’s prevocational training manager, Anna Nichols, said the barrier to filling all placements was a lack of junior doctors, but this was changing.

“With current government initiatives, such as the increased medical student intake and new medical schools graduating their classes now, the supply for PGPPP is improving rapidly and with increasing impetus.”

Dr Rawlin added that he hoped filling the existing placements would lead to the program being expanded.