{"id":579,"date":"2025-05-28T09:21:09","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T23:21:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ruralhealth.org.au\/stagingpartyline\/?p=579"},"modified":"2025-06-06T14:48:57","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T04:48:57","slug":"experience-that-shouldnt-go-to-waste-the-role-of-retired-doctors-in-rural-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ruralhealth.org.au\/partyline\/experience-that-shouldnt-go-to-waste-the-role-of-retired-doctors-in-rural-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Experience that shouldn\u2019t go to waste: The role of retired doctors in rural health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As Australia faces growing challenges in maintaining a strong rural health workforce, the experience of retired doctors remains an underutilised national asset. Drawing on four decades of rural general practice\u2014including procedural work in obstetrics, anaesthesia, and emergency care\u2014Dr Desley Marshall advocates for a system that allows senior doctors to remain active in meaningful and appropriate ways after retirement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While rural healthcare has evolved significantly since the 1970s\u2014with more structured training, credentialling, and support now available for new practitioners\u2014the demand for experienced clinicians remains high. Many retired doctors still hold valuable skills and knowledge that could assist in times of crisis, support younger practitioners, or fill critical gaps in rural and remote communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the vision behind the Australian Senior Active Doctors Association Inc. (ASADA)<\/strong>, where Dr Marshall now contributes as a committee member. ASADA champions the development of a \u201cstep-down\u201d registration category, enabling senior doctors to maintain current knowledge through appropriate continuing professional development and contribute in a flexible, non-clinical or limited-clinical capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The model proposes creating a national medical reserve\u2014a pool of experienced, qualified doctors who can be mobilised for public health campaigns, natural disasters, or periods of workforce strain, particularly in rural and remote areas. From supporting mass immunisation efforts, to assisting with emergency care, to mentoring early-career rural GPs, the possibilities are wide-reaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Marshall\u2019s personal experience underscores the importance of local connection in rural medicine. While her practice days are now behind her, the sense of purpose that came from contributing to her community remains. Through ASADA, she and many other senior doctors are advocating for policy changes that would allow retired health professionals\u2014both GPs and specialists\u2014to continue serving the communities they understand best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With an ageing medical workforce and ongoing rural health inequities, the question is no longer whether retired doctors can<\/em> contribute, but whether Australia can afford not to harness their experience.<\/p>\n

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