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Objective: To determine the waiting times for non-urgent appointments with specialist medical practitioners in private practice., Methods: A telephone survey of specialists selected randomly by the Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health was conducted. The waiting times for non-urgent appointments were measured, and the results were grouped by specialty and analysed., Results: Waiting times to see various physicians and surgeons did not differ substantially. There were significantly longer (P < 0.002) waiting times for urological surgeons (median, 25.5 days) and for women obstetricians and gynaecologists (median, 40 days) than for other specialists., Conclusions: The average waiting time to see a specialist surgeon or physician for a non-urgent condition in private practice is acceptable by current community standards. However, the longer waiting times suggest that there are too few urologists and women obstetricians and gynaecologists.

Medical manpower projections indicate that by 1991 there will be one doctor to 500 population instead of the 1: 721 ratio in 1976. There are many variables; projections, while hazardous, are necessary for planning because of the long lead time. Productivity is equally important. There is no evidence that the rapidly rising female intake will reduce productivity in the next 15 years.

A survey of medical manpower in Victoria in 1977 revealed that 17% of registered medical practitioners were female and that the proportion of females was much higher among younger graduates. Seventy-eight per cent of female doctors were currently working in Victoria, compared with 82% of male doctors; 3.8% were "not working temporarily" compared with 0.6% of male doctors; and 3.9% were "retired" compared with 1.9% of male doctors. Female doctors accounted for only 8% of specialists in private practive, compared with 15% of general practitioners, more than 20% of salaried staff members of hospitals and other semigovernment and government bodies, and 40% of the staff members of community health centres. Thirty-eight per cent of female doctors were working part time. The need for part-time training programmes and part-time work, and the difficulties of female graduates becoming specialists are discussed. The implications of increasing proportions of female doctors entering the medical work force during the next decade, and the lower average working hours of female doctors compared with those of males, are considered in relation to the increasing supply of medical manpower in Australia.