For the rural family physician, there is a major challenge in being the
confidential medical adviser in the consulting room and friend in the social
and recreational setting in the community. For doctors' spouses this
may be more difficult as members of the community will tend to treat them
differently because of the connection with the doctor. In many ways, the
rural practitioner's spouse may be more socially isolated than the doctor.
Consequently, there is a need for specific strategies to provide personal
support for doctors spouses. Also spouses often have difficulty in obtaining
employment and/or pursuing career objectives. Strategies to meet these needs
must be included.
For the doctor's family, there are difficulties with education and subsequent
employment. Strategies to assist with educational support and funding for
going away to pursue education should be included in support programs for
doctors' families.
The long periods on-call with frequent call outs lead to great family
disruption such that there is a need for longer than usual periods of
recreation leave for rural doctors and their families. Programs to assist must
include appropriate locum relief and financial assistance to permit recreation
leave away from the rural community.