Member for Pittwater, Rob Stokes has today called on NSW Health to consider establishing a GP Clinic at Mona Vale Hospital to address the chronic shortage of GP’s on the Northern Beaches.

This winter has again exposed the acute shortage of general medical practitioners in Pittwater.

“Local residents have told me that they were sent away from the a local Medical Centre on Tuesday due to overwhelming demand, and were subsequently turned away from another private practice for the same reason.

“Yet I know several local medical practices who can’t find young doctors willing to enter local general practice.

“A shortage of doctors in regional NSW has been a long standing problem but a growing and aging population in Pittwater, coupled with the trend away from doctors entering general practice, is leading to a crisis in outer metropolitan areas like Pittwater as well.

“If private medical practice can’t cope, then the task falls to Government to ensure quick access to general medical services.

“A solution is for NSW Health to establish a GP Clinic at Mona Vale Hospital to serve non emergency patients and meet demand for general services while reducing pressure on the busy emergency department at Mona Vale,” concluded Rob Stokes.