Regional WA medical services neglected, Crook
Author: Tony Crook
Published on: 04-June-2010
The Nationals WA candidate for O’Connor, Tony Crook has spoken out against the rural health rip-off, after news this week that the qualified doctor shortage in Southern Cross will force the local clinic to close.
The only medical clinic in the Shire of Yilgarn is set to close its doors in August, after providing a service for the past eight years.
Mr Crook said the situation for rural and regional health in WA was frustrating and yet another example of the rip-off being experienced due to the Federal Government’s neglect.
“The Rudd government is doing very little to encourage Australian-trained doctors into the system, particularly as the aptitude test and requirements are so high,” Mr Crook said.
“There are overseas trained doctors who are also willing to work in Australia and they are restricted, so we’re losing out all round.”
Mr Crook said local shire councils should be given full credit for their efforts to retain doctors in regional towns.
“Shires are bending over backwards, offering housing and other incentives to entice doctors to stay,” he said.
“Encouraging doctors to live and work in rural Australia should be the Federal Government’s responsibility, not that of local government.
“It’s effectively a ‘double-dip’ for taxpayers because we are paying for health through our taxes and through our rates, all due to the lack of Federal support.”
Mr Crook said frustrations for overseas-trained doctors included not being able to get visas without going through painstaking legal procedures and time delays.
“It’s getting beyond a joke because the requirements are just too restrictive,” Mr Crook said.
“The Nationals WA have made health staff a key priority, with the Rural Generalist Pathways program to support the training of junior doctors in regional areas receiving more than $8 million from Royalties for Regions in the recent State Budget.”
Mr Crook said it was high time Canberra gave regional WA the attention it deserved.
The Nationals are committed to representing regional WA and will work to get WA’s fair share back.
