29 November 2008

Recruitment drive underway in Wagga Wagga

NSW Minister for Health, John Della Bosca today said the recruitment and retention of health professionals in rural and remote areas is an issue of national importance.

"As we know, one of the major issues impacting the provision of health services throughout the world is a skills shortage of doctors and nurses. This is particularly a major issue in rural and regional NSW," Mr Della Bosca said.

"The NSW Government is working to address this issue and has implemented a range of strategies targeting the major workforce groups including doctors, dentists, nurses and allied health professionals to rural and regional communities.

"In Wagga Wagga, the Area Health Service has been successful in recruiting a number of Obstetrician and Gynaecological specialist locums to provide essential services to the community.

"Wagga Wagga Base Hospital is currently employing an Australian-trained locum Obstetrician and Gynaecologist from London as part of a recruitment effort to attract him to the city in the role of Director of the hospital's obstetrics unit.

"This specialist doctor is employed under an arrangement where he stays for a month at a time. This is more cost effective compared to flying a locum into the region on a weekly basis and it meets the health needs of the region.

"It would be a win for the local community if the efforts of the recruitment drive pay off and this specialist doctor agrees to work in the area permanently," he said.

"I understand the Specialist has made five trips to the region this year," he said.

The cost of the return trip to London is that of an economy flight (approximately $3,500 return.)

"If it means we have a top class specialist working in an important regional centre such as Wagga Wagga, then this is money wisely spent," Mr Della Bosca said.

"Obviously this shouldn't be a permanent solution and that is why the Director General and I have already taken action as a key priority of our savings strategy to reform the use of locums particularly in regional communities," he said.

Mr Della Bosca said the NSW Government would be using the Garling Report as a blueprint to improve the NSW Health System.

"One of our key priorities over the next couple of months is to review the Garling Report and see what changes we can make to provide improved patient care to regional communities," Mr Della Bosca said.

"That focus will centre on how we can use taxpayer funds more wisely to provide specialised care throughout NSW.

"One of the strategies of our action plan is to create more professional career and educational opportunities in the regions of NSW, so people train in these regions and continue on to work in the regions when they are fully qualified," he added.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au