Murrumbidgee Division of General Practice

Name Murrumbidgee Division of General Practice

Division Number	232
Classification	Rural
Number of Member GPs	43

State	New South Wales
Year Established	1994
Number of Member Practices	19

Postcodes Covered	2652, 2665, 2675, 2680, 2681, 2700, 2703, 2705, 2706, 2707, 2711, 2712, 2713, 2714, 2716, 2733.
Population	63,411 (2001 Census)
Area Covered	The Division covers 51 238 square kilometres, and encompasses the following towns: Barellan, Berrigan, Carrathool, Coleambally, Darlington Point, Finley, Hay, Hillston, Goolgowi, Jerilderie, Leeton, Merriwagga, Morundah, Narrandera, Rankins Springs, Whitton and Yenda.
CEO	Mr Keith McDonald
Chair	Dr Marion Reeves

Physical Address:

Top Floor

18-22 Kurrajong Avenue

LEETON NSW 2705

Australia

Postal Address:

PO Box 995

LEETON NSW 2705

Australia

Email:	mdgp@mdgp.net.au
Phone:	02 6953 6454
Fax:	02 6953 6653
Website:	http://www.mdgp.net.au

The Murrumbidgee Division covers 51,238 square kilometres and is located in the western Riverina area of NSW, based around the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area

The Honorable Arthur Griffith who was the then NSW Minister of Public Works inaugurated the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area in 1912. The development of the MIA saw many Italian miners arrive from Broken Hill and many of these settled and took up farming. The Italian influence was increased by further immigration and is very much alive in the area.

It is one of Australia's premier agricultural regions which produces 95% of NSW rice and 80% of NSW wine, which is 20% of the total national wine production. The Riverina is also Australia's largest exporter of bulk wines.

The region is also home to the nation's largest egg and poultry enterprise (Bartters). The area produces 70-75% of the state's maize grain. Most maize is grown under contract for a range of end uses including: gritting for corn flakes and other snack foods including corn chips, waxy maize for flour, high-amylose for high fibre bread, popcorn, feed grain and silage for nearby feedlots. A small quantity is being exported into high value niche markets.

The economy in the area is growing rapidly and dynamically. This is reflected in the area's growing population.

The number one program for the Division is retention and recruitment. The Division has a rapidly aging GP population with a third of our GPs aged over 55 years old and the oldest being 75.

Some of the main stakeholders in the Division area are: local GPs, practice staff, the Greater Murray Area Health Service, other health agencies, pharmaceutical companies, local Councils and the local media.

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

In the last 4 years it has proved the prime mover in not only recruiting to a more than 50% turnover of the GP workforce within its Division boundaries, but also attracting further providers to the area;

It currently provides direct operational management on contract to 2 remote GP surgeries, hence it already has established administrative systems that may be readily adapted to oversee the proposed Locum Service;

As a means of value adding to local GP services, it currently coordinates the delivery of a range of visiting specialist and allied health clinics to rural and remote communities within its catchment;

To address a chronic shortage of Mental Health Services in the region, a collaborative approach has been developed and implemented with the local Area Health Service in improving access of patients to Psychology services; and

As a result of the successful development and implementation of the Griffith Area Palliative Care Service (GAPS), it currently provides a national consultancy to the ADGP and Department of Health & Ageing for the roll out of its Rural Palliative Care Program.

Programs and services:

Continuing Professional Management	Information management
Staff and Nurse education and trainng	Griffith Palliative care services
Psychology Services	Visiting Psychiatric services
Visiting Orthopaedic Surgeon	Dietitian and diabetes services
Visiting Oncology services	Practice Accreditation Implementation and Support
Program Management	State Palliative Care Conference (2003)
Recruitment and Retention	Visiting Obstetrician/Gynaecology services
Podiatry Services

CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE

Recruitment and retention of current GP and allied health workforce;

Adequately supporting GP practices to improve data management and maximise access to government incentives;

Providing adequate allied health access to rural and remote communities

It is an extremely exciting time to be involved with Divisions of General Practice. Appropriately managed and governed Divisions are offering imperative services and support to General Practice.

The opportunity exists for DGP to provide appropriate support to ensure retention barriers are addressed. Perhaps more importantly, DGP are in a position to assist General Practice with the enormous demands on "change management". The implemented change can be done to ensure future sustainability and increased viability of General Practice.

The Ideal number of additional FTE GPs required in our the Division is between 45-50 FTE.