Steps being taken to address GP shortage in Glen Innes

Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay received assurances from Hunter New England (HNE) Health that steps are being taken to address the shortage of General Practitioners (GPs) within the community.
A GP Clinic will soon be operating from the Glen Innes Hospital on weekends and public holidays to treat non-urgent patients.
The shortage of GP services in Glen Innes has led to lengthy waiting times for patients wanting to join the books of a local doctor or to secure an appointment for treatment.
Mr Torbay said he has spoken to constituents over the past few months about the shortage and had discussed the problem with the Chief Executive of HNE Health who confirmed that a GP Clinic for Glen Innes Hospital will be operating 'as soon as possible'.
"The shortage has reached a chronic stage and I have been told that almost 200 residents are currently waiting to join patient's lists at surgeries in Glen Innes," Mr Torbay said. "I have also been told that people are forced to travel to Inverell and Armidale to access treatment and renew prescriptions.
"Unfortunately, the GP shortage is a phenomenon not restricted to Glen Innes with hundreds of regional vacancies throughout NSW needing to be filled.
"I am pleased that HNE Health is taking steps to address the shortage by establishing a GP Clinic in the Glen Innes Hospital as a stop-gap measure.
"HNE Health is also working with the New England Division of General Practice and the Rural Doctors' Network to attract additional doctors to Glen Innes and the district.
"Students from the University of New England's Rural Medical Program have entered their final year of studies and I am optimistic that, as they graduate, we will begin to see more GPs choosing country practice as their career choice."
The GP Clinic at Glen Innes Hospital is expected to be open by the end of January and will initially open on weekends and public holidays between 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm.