RWGPS general information
The RWGPS has been operating since 1999. Funding is provided through the Commonwealth Department of Health & Ageing.
Through the RWGPS, a female GP, based in a larger centre, travels to a remote community periodically to provide services to people in that community. Common characteristics of RWGPS doctors are:
- Female fully-qualified GP with special experience in women’s health
- Based normally in a larger town or city
- Prepared to take time out of their regular practice to travel to a remote community periodically
- Travel to the remote community usually between once per month and twice per year
- Often stay overnight for one night in the remote community
- Travel to the community usually by aeroplane, although a number of doctors travel by car
Female GPs who are used to life in a larger town or city often find the experience of travelling to a remote location very special. They are frequently regarded as a key part of the remote community and often need to stay in that community (which might involve staying in someone’s home, as communities can be too small to have hotel accommodation) overnight. They often need to battle with difficult conditions, such as dust storms, high temperatures, lack of many services and problems with transport (especially if there is flooding or storms).
The great majority of doctors feel very privileged to be part of the RWGPS and these doctors tend to stay with the service for many years.
The RWGPS is not intended to compete with existing male GP services in the targeted communities. In fact, the male GP is a key part of the justification for providing the service.
In order for service delivery to be initiated in a location, it has to meet all of the following eligibility criteria:
- be at least 50km from a practising female GP, whether temporary or permanent;
- have a population over 1,000; and
- have reasonable access to primary health care services provided by a male GP.
For communities with a smaller population, there are some additional ways set up that can accommodate these smaller communities, if they can “pool together” with other communities nearby. RWGPS doctors see both female and male patients. However, the great majority of their patients are women.
The RWGPS covers over 18,000 patient consultations per year (throughout Australia), seen through more than 1500 clinic visits at more than 150 locations.
The service is a key resource for local (male) GPs, as it provides a backup resource for them, and especially one who is skilled in women’s health (which is not an area of expertise for all other GPs). Surveys show that female GPs, host (male) GPs and patients all overwhelmingly value the service highly.