It has been reported that the town will be left to operate with one general practitioner (GP) to service the population of 1457, plus surrounding areas.

This doctor to patient ratio is over 300 more patients than what is recommended, according to figures provided by the Murray Mallee General Practice Network (MMGPN).

Doctor’s Sanjeev and Divya Sabharwal, who began working in Tailem Bend in June 2006, are reported to be leaving in February.

Sanjeev and Divya were contacted by The Standard, but were unavailable for comment.

Tailem Bend is not the only rural area where there is a shortage, with the same report indicating places such as Renmark, Orroroo and Cleve on the west coast were also suffering from a shortage of GPs.

To address the GP shortage, the new Federal Government announced last Friday it was looking to find out the extent of rural GP and nurse shortages and find ways to keep these professionals in rural areas.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the government would conduct an audit of the shortage of doctors, nurses and other health professionals in rural Australia.

“We will examine the reasons for these shortages,” Mr Rudd said.

“We will be asking the Department of Health and Ageing to provide us with a range of options for attracting and retaining health professionals in rural Australia.”

Federal Member for Barker Patrick Secker said the shortages in rural areas were already known.

“It’s always useful to know where the shortages are, but that information is already pretty clear,” Mr Secker said.

“I would welcome any move to increase doctors into rural areas, we (the Liberals) have gone a long way to fixing that up, but it’s an ongoing problem.”

Keeping rural doctors ...

GPs report the main attractions to rural practice for them are: Lifestyle (63 per cent), professional challenges (66pc), location (53pc).

Reasons for leaving are: Children’s education (93pc), pressure of work (94pc), social/family issues for themselves and their spouse (93pc).

* Practice managers commonly report working conditions as reasons why GPs leave rural areas, especially excessive workload and demands*

Most practices offer some incentives to attract and retain GPs including: 65pc offer use of practice facilities, 61pc offer guaranteed time off, 44pc offer housing and equipment.

- Source: Rural Doctors’ Workforce Agency