Training for NT General Practitioners facing a grim future

The national trend for declining enrolments in GP training is most profound in the Northern Territory (NT) and could spell disaster for the NT’s future GP workforce according to a study by a leading medical research institute.

Historically, the NT has struggled to attract and retain GPs, especially in remote areas, and relies heavily on doctors enrolled in GP training, however between 2016 and 2020 new enrolments in GP training in the NT fell by 50 percent, a stark comparison to the 12 percent national decline.

Led by Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) Professor of Remote and Rural Health Services Research, John Wakerman, the study looked to determine the factors underpinning the decline in GP enrolments in the NT and how to overcome these issues.

According to Dr Deb Russell, a Menzies Senior Research Fellow, the period prior to doctors enrolling in specialty training was deemed the most crucial for attracting them to GP training in NT.

“We found that the most important phase of training to invest in was the period of time from when medical students graduated to when they first enrolled in a specialty training program where many are still making up their minds about their career path,” Dr Russell said.

The study was funded by the NT Primary Health Network/Rural Workforce Agency NT. The full paper, Northern Territory General Practice Training Pathway Analysis is available on request.