(1)   For each financial year from 2000-01 to 2005-06, in the electoral division of Throsby:

(a)   what was the full-time equivalent number of general practitioners (GPs)

(b)   what was the GP-to-population ratio.

(2)   What was the GP-to-population ratio in 2005-06 for:

(a)   Australia.

(b)   New South Wales.

(c)   the electoral division of Throsby.

(3)   Which part(s) of the electoral division of Throsby is/are now classified as a District of Workforce Shortage.

(4)   What practical measures are being undertaken to fill existing GP shortages in the Shellharbour Statistical Local Area.

(1)   Federal electorate level data on the GP to population ration is not used for the determination of district of workforce shortage status and as such is not part of the range of data used by the Department on a routine basis.

(2) (a)   The GP to population ratio is determined at the Statistical Local Area (SLA) level and updated every quarter. The GP (full time equivalent - FTE) to population ratio for Australia in 2005-06 was 1,393. (b) The GP (FTE) to population ratio for New South Wales in 2005/06 was 1355. (c) Federal electorate level data on the GP to population ratio is not used for the determination of district of workforce shortage status and as such is not part of the range of data used by the Department on a routine basis.

(3)   The electoral division of Throsby comprises two Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) - Wollongong (C) and Shellharbour (C). The Wollongong (C) SLA is also shared with the electoral division of Cunningham. The SLA of Shellharbour (C) is currently classified as a district of workforce shortage.

(4)   The Commonwealth Government has a number of strategies in place to ensure that in the future, the constituents of Throsby will have access to adequate medical services. These include greatly increased numbers of medical school places at universities and the introduction of bonded medical school places schemes whereby graduating doctors commit to work in districts of workforce shortage, for up to six years. Current workforce programs include: MedicarePlus for Other Medical Practitioners (MOMPs) Program The MOMPs Program provides access to the A1 Medicare rebate for services provided in Areas of Workforce Shortage (AOWS) by eligible pre-1996 non-vocationally registered medical practitioners. As the Statistical Local Area (SLA) of Shellharbour (C) is considered to be an AOWS, eligible medical practitioners in this area, including in Albion Park, Shellharbour and Tongarra are able to access this program. The After Hours OMPs (AHOMPs) Program The AHOMPs Program provides access to the A1 Medicare rebate for after hours general practice services, provided through an accredited general practice or an accredited Medical Deputising Service (MDS) by eligible non-vocationally recognised medical practitioners. As eligibility for the AHOMPs Program is not determined by geographical location, eligible medical practitioners providing after hours services through an accredited MDS or accredited general practice in the SLA of Shellharbour (C) are eligible for this Program. Medicare provider number restrictions The Commonwealth Government has been effective in attracting and retaining more doctors in rural and remote and metropolitan areas through the Medicare provider number restrictions, which relate to overseas trained doctors. Under these restrictions, overseas trained doctors (OTDs) are required to work in designated ‘areas of workforce shortage’ for up to 10 years. Practices in the electorate of Throsby are eligible for the engagement of OTDs.