As a GP registrar, I fear for the future of general practice.

I love what I do, but I feel that is becoming the only reason to head down this path — the passion for it. It’s certainly not for the remuneration or the respect from the politicians (and, by proxy, the public). 

Why would I risk a career in general practice on the sole pillar of loving what I do, when I could have the safety of a hospital-based salary with all the trimmings?

GPs are underrated, under-appreciated, under-compensated and seemingly dispensable — a specialty that is easily outsourced to nurse practitioners, pharmacists, the checkout chick at Coles.