HUNTER Medical Practice’s Santhosh Sadashivappa has been accepted into a national program that allows him to remain in the Upper Hunter while at the same time, gaining additional knowledge and skills in specialist general practice.
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This is great news for the Denman community, ensuring that much-needed medical skills and expertise continue to be available locally.
Funded by the Federal Government Department of Health, the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS) provides fully-supported training services for rural and remote doctors wanting to further specialise in general practice.
The primary focus of the RVTS program is to retain GPs in rural and remote areas.
“Doctors who train with us gain access to the latest advances in rural general practice without having to leave their patients and move to another centre,” RVTS chief executive officer Dr Patrick Giddings said.
“Many GPs work as solo practitioners and in locations where the medical services would be substantially compromised if they were required to undertake specialist GP training away from their community.
“We know that without our support, many doctors may have had to leave to pursue career advancement.”
About one-third of the Australian population lives in rural, regional and remote areas and it is well recognised that they don’t enjoy the same access to health services and health related infrastructure as those who live in the cities.
Increasing the numbers of health professionals in rural and remote areas remains an ongoing focus at both federal and state levels.
Dr Sadashivappa is one of 32 doctors who have been accepted into the RVTS program this year.
“I am really grateful that I can stay here in Denman, supporting my community and my patients,” he said.
“But, at the same time, I have access to high levels of support and training, delivered remotely.”