The Nationals demand action to tackle the doctor crisis in regional WA, Waldron
Author: Terry Waldron
Published on: 03-December-2010
Member for Wagin, Terry Waldron MLA has today released a summary of incentives that country Local Governments are being forced to pay out to secure doctors for their communities.
The Parliamentary National Party conducted a survey seeking to reveal the extent of the doctor shortage and the incentives being provided by Shires to attract or retain a doctor.
Mr Waldron said some Shires in regional WA were providing incentives valued up to $900,000 per annum to attract and keep a doctor in their town.
“The doctor shortage in regional WA is now at crisis level – Local Governments are carrying a huge burden to address the problem, including providing housing, surgeries, cars and salary incentives, which is simply not sustainable,” Mr Waldron said.
“About 60 per cent of Local Governments that responded to the survey are providing incentives to attract a doctor.”
Mr Waldron said more than 80 Local Governments from regional WA provided details of their specific circumstances.
“The doctor shortage is widespread across regional areas, ranging from Manjimup in the south to Roebourne in the north,” Mr Waldron said.
“Some towns are struggling to get one doctor, while other towns have 10 or so doctors, but need additional doctors to keep up with the growing population and workload in certain locations.
“About half of the Shires that responded identified that they had a doctor shortage.”
Mr Waldron said the Parliamentary National Party is using the information to build a case for the Federal and State Governments to take measures to address the problem.
“We know there are Doctors being trained and coming through the system, but they won’t be ready to practice for another five to seven years,” Mr Waldron said.
“It may take some thinking ‘outside the square’ to address this crisis in the short to medium term.”
The Parliamentary National Party has written to the State and Federal Minister’s for Health seeking advice on a range of solutions including nurse practitioners, salaried doctors in hospitals and increasing the number of examination sittings for international doctors.
“We are also aware, that due to the significant shortage of Doctors in the state, we are not fully accessing funding available under the Medicare scheme,” Mr Waldron said.
“The Nationals are seeking advice on whether there’s an opportunity to access some of this ‘underfund’ to deal with the crisis in the short to medium term.”
