The new nurses are expected to help improve patient care and cut waiting times.

According to the Ballarat and District Division of General Practice, 62 nurses were employed in GP clinics across the region in May, up 10 from the same time last year.

A further six nurses have since started work, bringing the total to 68.

General Practice Victoria division consultant Helen Threlfall said Ballarat had done "very well" to achieve the increase.

"Ballarat and Bendigo have both achieved a growth of over 20 per cent in numbers, which is higher than the rate of growth in the other regional centres (where) the range is six to 12 per cent."

Ms Threlfall said patients would receive better care and improved chronic disease management and prevention activities as a result of the boom.

She said reducing the ill effects of chronic disease could also help curtail hospital admissions.

BDDGP practice support co-ordinator Michelle MacGillivray said the division's promotion of the role of GP practice nurses had contributed to the growth.

GP practice nurses can be involved in a range of clinical activities, including immunisation, pathology collection, patient liaison and wound care.

Ms MacGillivray said the nurses, recruited from within Ballarat, were also attracted by the increasing role of a practice nurse and family-friendly conditions.

GP practice nurses are employed at 19 of the region's 27 GP clinics.

Ms MacGillivray said the division hoped to see nurses operating in all of the clinics by 2010.

She said the division had been working with the Australian Catholic University's Ballarat campus since 2003 to encourage third-year nursing GP clinic placements.