Canberra's GP shortage appears to have dramatically improved with most general practices opening their books to new patients as the number of doctors working in the territory climbs.
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A survey by Chief Minister and Health Minister Katy Gallagher's office last month showed more than 70 per cent of general practices were accepting new patients.
The results indicate a dramatic turnaround since a Canberra Times survey of 50 general practices in December 2010 found that just over half were accepting new patients.
Medical practices which a year ago were unable to accept new patients are now advertising for more clients.
Mildura-based Tristar Medical Group this month opened a bulk-billing general practice at the CISAC sports complex in Bruce and has plans to open clinics at Mitchell and Greenway.
The Bruce practice has three GPs, a practice nurse starting next week and plans for three more doctors.
Tristar Bruce GP Nsununguli Mbo said many of his new patients had commented they were pleased to be able to access a bulk-billing doctor.
''The patients are quite excited. Some haven't seen a GP for quite a long time because they couldn't afford the bills,'' he said.
Dr Mbo undertook his medical training in Ireland and worked in Victoria before moving to Canberra to work in the new clinic.
He said many patients were able to book same-day appointments because the practice was new.
Ms Gallagher said ACT government measures such as providing financial assistance for practice expansion and overseas recruitment and incentives for practices to take on student placements had helped bring more GPs to the ACT.
''I certainly am not going to pat myself on the back and say it's down to the ACT government,'' she said.
''But we've genuinely worked in partnership with the Medicare Local and different organisations wanting to come and work here to support that and to facilitate it.''
ACT Medicare Local chair Rashmi Sharma said her Isabella Plains practice had been finding it easier to accommodate patient demand for appointments.
''I think things are turning around. We can now often offer appointments on the same day,'' she said.
Dr Sharma said the Medicare Local's workforce officer had helped bring 40 extra doctors to the ACT.
The ANU medical school had also helped grow the local workforce and local GP registrar positions were now all filled.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare statistics released this week show the ACT had 1340 employed medical practitioners in 2006, rising to 1523 in 2010.
While the number of employed doctors rose, the number of registered medical practitioners fell from 1778 in 2008 to 1653 in 2010.
Dr Sharma and Ms Gallagher said more detailed studies were needed into the ACT's medical workforce needs.
Ms Gallagher's survey indicated most general practices were not bulk billing, which is consistent with the recorded local bulk billing rate of 48 per cent, compared to the national rate of 81 per cent.
The survey was undertaken before Primary Health Care's Ginninderra Medical and Dental Centre announced it would begin bulk billing all patients.
