UK - Trained GPs ready to help us.

It seems that help for our GP workforce shortage problem is waiting in the wings - or could be, if the powers that be would allow it. 

We have received the following email from Mr Ron Crause, Chairman of the Australian Association of Medical Recruitment Agencies (AAMRA).

"I have read your submission to Mr Rudd. We at AAMRA would be most supportive of your initiatives. I thought I would also bring to your attention that the last federal government introduced, under Mr Abbot a program in 2004, called Strengthening Medicare which has been very successful in bringing in over 600 GPs into Australia during this period. This program has not been renewed by the current government even though tenders went out for it in December 2007. Submissions have been made to Ms Roxon to entreat her to continue the program but without any success.  With the current economic downturn in the UK we have the opportunity to get some really good UK trained GP’s and the continuation of this program or anything similar would also help."

So, Mr. Rudd and Ms. Roxon, what is the go here? Is there some really good reason that that this program has not been continued? If there is, please tell it to us - and especially our rural colleagues.

Recruiting GPs from a developed nation such as the UK avoids the ethical dilemma of taking doctors from countries that can ill-afford to train them in the first place, never mind then losing them to wealthier countries.