00:02Strawn, on Tasmania's west coast, hasn't had a permanent GP since 2017.
00:09The local clinic relies on visiting doctors.
00:12I think everybody here in Strawn has the same problem, that you go to a different doctor
00:19every fortnight or so.
00:21For Jamie McGuinness, who suffered a permanent brain injury in a car crash 20 years ago,
00:26repeating his story to each new visiting doctor makes him feel a certain way.
00:33I'm excited because I can't speak no good.
00:37The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners says it's better for patients to see the same GP regularly.
00:44We know the best care that you get from your doctor is with one who knows you and who's followed
00:49your journey all the way through.
00:51Oka is offering incentives like flexible rosters and help with housing to attract a doctor to the remote town.
00:58The place itself can be a barrier unless you're selling it the right way and I feel like we sell
01:02it the right way.
01:03There's literally just not enough GPs to go around sometimes that want to come out rurally.
01:08In some good news, an offer has been made to a permanent doctor and the company is hoping to make
01:13an announcement soon.
01:14We want to make something work for the community and we want to make something work for any potential GP
01:19that's out there.
01:20Limited access to healthcare is not an issue unique to rural Tasmania,
01:25with many clinics around Australia struggling to find permanent staff.
01:29Despite some signs for hope, it is unclear whether any fix will be a permanent solution.
01:35Jamie just hopes soon he won't have to repeat himself to yet another new doctor.
01:45Sandy Powell, ABC News, Straughan.
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