Royalties for Regions breaks GP drought, Duncan
Author: Wendy Duncan
Published on: 12-December-2011
Member for Mining and Pastoral Region, Hon Wendy Duncan MLC, has welcomed the recent announcement that six towns, including Esperance, are benefitting from the appointment of doctors new to regional Western Australia.
The six towns to benefit from the first round of appointments are Corrigin, Esperance, Kalbarri, Lake Grace, Merredin and Quairading.
“These appointments are the first of 44 additional doctors recruited under the $565 million Royalties for Regions funded Southern Inland Health Initiative,” said Ms Duncan.
An immediate first-year emphasis of the Southern Inland Health Initiative is to address the shortage of general practitioners as part of an investment of $240 million dollars for additional regional medical staff.
A further $325 million has been allocated to support health workers with necessary capital works.
“The Nationals WA have done considerable research into the extent of the doctor shortage across Western Australia and are pleased that Royalties for Regions funding is providing relief for such a crucial matter,” said Ms Duncan.
The value that our general practitioners add to our sense of community is great. They improve our common feeling of security and wellbeing, and make our towns more attractive places to live.
Experience shows that many doctors who try life in country WA find that the attractions of regional life and variety of work motivate them to stay.
Ms Duncan said that the State Government took part in the British Medical Journal Expo which resulted in 45 doctors showing interest in coming to WA. Twenty two of these had relevant GP qualifications.
“This timing of this news is especially welcome as we anticipate the commencement of a range of infrastructure projects in 2012 and prepare for future growth under the Royalties for Regions SuperTowns project,” said Ms Duncan.
