New Health Minister orders Skills Shortage Audit

Last week the Prime Minister asked his new Health Minister , Nicola Roxon, to immediately begin an audit of the shortage of doctors, nurses and other health professionals in rural and regional Australia.

The audit will examine the reasons for these shortages and will ensure a thorough picture is presented of this far-reaching problem. The audit will build on the work already conducted, but not released, by the previous Government" said Ms Roxon.

The department will also provide advice on a range of options for attracting and retaining health professionals in rural and regional Australia.

"We know that there are medical workforce shortages across 74 per cent of Australia, affecting 59 per cent of the population."

The Minister has asked her department for the audit and advice to be provided by the end of February 2008.

"This audit is in addition to our commitments to reform the health and hospital system across the country, plus our detailed election commitments to improve services to rural and regional Australia including:

• The provision of at least 400 of the additional 1,000 nursing places the Government will offer each year under our $81 million nursing plan to universities offering clinical experience in regional and rural hospitals

• $2.5 million to establish a rural and remote clinical placement scheme for allied health students

• Upfront investments made under the Government's National Health Reform Plan will be targeted at areas where need is high, particularly including rural and regional areas.

We are committed to delivering better health care across Australia - and that is why we have already taken these first steps towards ensuring families in rural and regional Australia get the health care they deserve" said Ms Roxon.

Comment on this article

printer-friendly version

© 2003 Health Services Union (HSU)
This page: http://www.hsua.org.au/news/1197955128_13417.html
Last Modified: Tuesday, 18-Dec-2007 16:24:13 EST

Proudly designed and programmed by Social Change Online