Mr. Rudd's Response ....

Mr. Rudd did indeed get back to us in response to our letter. Here is the text of his reply, dated 11 March 2008.

"Thankyou for your correspondence of 15 and 27 February regarding the level of medical services and resources available in the Griffith electorate.

As you indicated, ‘Districts of Workforce Shortage’ are classified by the Department of Health and Ageing according to a range of criteria including the supply of General Practitioners in the broader area and the population need.

I understand that the area is not currently classified as a ‘District of Workforce Shortage’ by the Department of Health and Ageing. I understand the difficulties family practices have trying to attract GPs, and I have asked the minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Nicola Roxon, MP, to examine why the Greenslopes Family Practice has not been classified as having ‘District of Workforce Shortage’ status.

Please be assured that as soon as further information becomes available my Electorate Office staff will be in contact with you.

The Federal Government will seek to invest %220 million in the health system to establish GP Super Clinics in local communities – bolstering frontline health care for Australian familiies. This investment will ensure more Australian families have access to doctors in their local community.

Over the next few yearrs, our government’s GP Super Clinics policy will also help to encourage the large number of doctors who will be graduating from our medical schools to work in general practice. GP Super Clinics will provide attractive environments for new medical school graduates to work in so we hope to see more doctors interested in becoming GPs as a result.

Further information regarding the Federal Government’s outline for GP Super Clinics may be obtained by visiting:
http://www.alp.org.au/download/now/new_directions_for_australias_health_gp_super_clinics_final.pdf

As you are aware, I recently announced the establishment of the Health and Hospital Reform Commission.

The Commission is developing its own website which will be available in the near future.

Should you wish to contact the Commission with suggestions for health and hospital reform, you may contact 1800 017 533 or email hhrc@health.gov.au

Given your interest in this matter, I have enclosed a brief outline of the Health and Hospital Reform Commissions’ objectives to further address your concerns.

Thankyou for taking the time to write to me on this most important concern. I trust this information will be of assistance to you.

If there are any other Federal Government matters with which I may be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contace my office on 3899 4031. "

Yours sincerely,

The Honourable Kevin Rudd, MP
Prime Minister of Australia
Federal Member for Griffith.