The number of medical students choosing a career in general practice is declining, according to Queensland's peak medical body, and the trend is likely to increase a doctor shortage in parts of the state.
Concerned doctors say finding enough staff for their medical centres post-COVID is becoming "increasingly difficult", and some patients are experiencing increased wait times for appointments.
Australian Medical Association Queensland (AMAQ) vice president Nicholas Yim said one of the challenges was a lack of university graduates interested in becoming GPs.
Dr Yim said it was the same situation state-wide.
"A lot of medical students and also a lot of doctors-in-training are not choosing general practice as a specialty anymore," he said.
"That is one of the reasons why down the track, especially fast forward three or four years, there might be actually a bigger shortage — especially when there is that population movement from interstate.
Students need more exposure
Griffith University's Dean of Medicine and School of Medicine and Dentistry's head, professor David Ellwood said introducing students to general practice earlier in their studies was an issue for all medical schools.
He said the Primary Health Care Network was "very helpful" in placing university students in general practice, but more exposure was needed.
"Not enough students when they graduate are thinking about general practice as a career, and we do have good data on what their intentions are.
"As medical students, they are exposed a lot more to the hospital environment."
Professor Ellwood said it would be good to have more graduates thinking of general practice as a career at the time of graduation.
He said understaffed medical centres and overworked GP's were less likely to be able to accommodate students in their practices.
"I think some of the reasons why general practice is not as attractive to students are perhaps some of the reasons why it's difficult to place students there," Professor Ellwood said.
"If there's an overall shortage and they're overworked and perhaps having to work hard to make a good living from general practice, then it's much more difficult to accommodate students into your practice."
'Busiest in 30 years'
The new president of AMAQ and general practitioner Maria Boulton said she was concerned the health care system was running on an absolute minimum.
She said Medicare rebates should be reviewed.
"We've never been as busy as we have been before," Dr Boulton said.
"I was talking to GPs over the weekend who've worked for 30 years, and they've never been busier.
She said there was a lot of fatigue among health care workers.
"Just yesterday, I was speaking to a paramedic who came to collect the patient from our practice, and she was deeply distressed about all the ramping that they've had to go through."
Experts said the federal government needs to recognise the importance of GP training.
"There needs to be recognition that it's really important for GPs to have time to devote to teaching medical students," Professor Ellwood said.
"[Then] it's more likely that we will get some students wanting to … consider general practice as a worthwhile career once they graduate."
