June 02 2021
Central Coast Sea Change GP Incentive Program
The Primary Health Network is funding eight grants of up to $40,000 each to support General Practice on the Central Coast to attract and recruit additional GPs.
Central Coast to see more GPs with changes to DPA status
Posted April 07, 2022
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Saratoga Medical Centre led a drawn out campaign that was ultimately successful in having the area granted Distribution Priority Area (DPA) status. GP clinics in a number of surrounding locations can now recruit overseas-trained doctors and bonded medical practitioners to help ease the GP shortage.
The change to DPA status followed an application to the Federal Government’s “exceptional circumstances” review co-ordinated with help from the Primary Health Network (PHN). The DPA classification identifies regions in which people find it harder to see a doctor, based on the needs of the community. Many of the area's GPs are nearing retirement and the elderly population has a high average age.
The PHN has recently helped recruit 12 new doctors to the Central Coast through its Sea Change grants program. These were specific grants for recruiting doctors to local practices from outside of the region.
