1. Challenges and Opportunities in Recruitment and Retention of Rural General Practitioners 16 th March 2013 Wesley Henderson 1

2. Recruit and Retain 8 partner regions: Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway, Scotland and Sweden Aim to identify solutions to difficulties in recruiting and retaining high quality personnel to work in the public sector in remote rural areas of Northern Europe 2

3. Catchment Area (Ireland / Northern Ireland) 3

4. Status Report Compilation Geography Demographics Health care systems Education Challenged Areas in recruitment and retention 4

5. Surveys Purpose Contents Circulation of Surveys Challenges Key Findings 5

6. Semi Structured Interviews Purpose Categories Format of interviews Key Findings 6

7. Negative Perceptions of Rural Practice city view of country teaching hospital view of medicine learned helplessness isolation of rural practice good rural practice impossible fear of being trapped 7

8. Challenges of Recruiting for Single Handed Practice Bureaucracy in activity reporting Work – Life Balance Business Management skills Spouse/ family factor Lack of Investment in Facilities 8

9. Challenges of Recruiting for Single Handed Practice Rural allowances not weighted highly enough Work-life balance Diseconomies of scale Locum cover for holiday periods 9

10. VICIOUS CIRCLE of Rural Practice Heavy workload and responsibility New graduates stay in the city Family & financial disadvantages Negative perceptions of rural practice 10

11. Attractions of Rural Practice environment & lifestyle variety of practice independence/responsibility whole patient/family/ community care role in community 11

12. Rural Practitioners wide range of services high level of clinical responsibility relative professional isolation specific community health role Extended Generalists 12

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15. Recruitment & Retention Strategies education and training financial incentives & rewards personal & professional support sustainable service models 15

16. Recruitment Facilitators for Rural Practice rural upbringing positive undergraduate rural clinical experiences targeted postgraduate training for rural practice 16

17. Professional and Personal Support better living conditions supportive work environment outreach support career development professional networks 17

18. Other Support Factors in Rural Health Care specialists support role partnership not putdown Technology to bridge distance 18

19. Australian and Canadian Initiatives Rural and Remote GP Program - Rural Workforce Agencies Retention Payments Rural medical family network Rural medical school 19

20. Norway Recruitment strategies: Recruit those with Local attachment or who like aspects of life. Additional holidays. Action Zone to promote settlement. Exchange system between primary and specialist health care. 20

21. Recruit and Retain We aim to develop co-ordinated packages which will support the: Training of health care personnel Skills development Effects of isolation Welfare of families 21