00:00Like a lot of older Tasmanians, Geoff's self has a few health issues.
00:08I've got issues with my vision, with my eyes, I've got prostate issues,
00:15a common thing for guys that are 65 and older. Watch out!
00:22Having a long term GP who knows his health history is important to Geoff,
00:27but the practice he goes to in the southern Tasmanian community of Snug
00:31is about to close because the owner's retiring.
00:34And the GP practice on Bruny Island where he lives already has a long waiting list.
00:39There is certainly disruption and inconvenience and concern
00:43that just goes with knowing that the practice that you've attended is going to close.
00:47Around 13,000 people on Bruny Island and in the Channel region attend the Snug Medical Centre.
00:54Some of those doctors will likely move to a new practice in nearby Margate,
00:58but that won't open until next year.
01:00The Snug Village aged care is next to the GP practice
01:04and has secured a new GP to take over caring for affected residents.
01:08It's important to try and retain local services, but that's getting exceptionally hard.
01:13And the GP who, luckily for us, has agreed to pick up those extra residents,
01:18she's holding a very large load already.
01:20The village is hoping to offer some of its space to GPs at the Snug Medical Centre as an interim solution.
01:26The strain on health services isn't unique to Bruny or the Channel.
01:30It's a problem communities right across Tasmania are facing.
01:34The Royal Australian College of GPs wants to see urgent action
01:38to help boost primary care and turn the tide of closures.
01:42Tasmanian Chair Dr Toby Gardner says the workforce is the sector's biggest challenge
01:47and Tasmania should look overseas for new GPs.
01:50They have to self-fund programs over the course of two years
01:54to become equivalent GPs in Australia at their own cost.
01:57So we've been talking to the state government about their willingness
02:00to help subsidise some of that training for those overseas trained doctors.
02:04But he warns there's no miracle cure for the GP crisis.
