Recruitment drive to tackle doctor shortage in the South East, Duncan
Author: Wendy Duncan
Published on: 10-August-2011
Mining and Pastoral MLC Wendy Duncan has welcomed the instigation of an international and domestic advertising campaign aiming to attract doctors to the southern inland areas of Western Australia.
The campaign, which will feature local doctors working in the region, was launched by the State Government last weekend.
Ms Duncan said the recruitment drive was part of the $565 million Southern Inland Health Initiative, funded under the Royalties for Regions Program.
During the program’s first year the key focus is to increase the number of private GPs working in the area, which stretches from Kalbarri and Meekatharra in the north, to Laverton in the east and down to Esperance in the south-east.
Ms Duncan said the initiative was another example of Royalties for Regions funding being used to improve life for those in regional areas of the State.
“For many years the south east has suffered from a doctor shortage where wait times stretch out to five weeks and new arrivals cannot find a permanent doctor. This is unacceptable in the 21st century in our wealthy nation.”
The recruitment campaign would be led by the WA Country Health Service, which would work closely with local communities, local government and country health agencies to implement efforts to boost the numbers of GPs in country towns.
“Once doctors are attracted to country areas of WA, the communities they become involved in and the attractions of regional life are often enough to retain them,” Ms Duncan said.
She said that regional communities valued their GPs, and access to safe and effective emergency services would help retain residents in regional areas where a lack of access to such services was often a factor resulting in families relocating.
“Adequate and effective medical services are important for all, especially those people
living in areas where distance is an additional factor to be considering when seeking accurate diagnoses and successful treatment.
“Having dedicated general practitioners in country towns provides regional residents
with the confidence to live in isolated areas, knowing qualified medical help is on hand
when they need it.”
