08 December 2004

Trainee specialists recruited for rural and regional NSW

More than 300 trainee specialists will be fanning out across New South Wales in 2005 following the successful establishment of the NSW Government’s Basic Physician training networks, Health Minister Morris Iemma said today.

“The collaboration between the Government and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians is delivering more trainee specialists for the public hospital system, and rural and regional NSW will be the first to benefit,” Mr Iemma said.

Next year 306 new Basic Physician Trainees will be working in our public hospitals an increase of 37 on 2004.

19 trainee positions have been filled by other medical staff leaving a vacancy rate of just 5%.

Under the program vacancies in rural hospitals will be filled first, and positions in country hospitals will be protected to ensure that trainees aren’t relocated from rural positions to fill vacancies in city hospitals.

“This agreement gives rural and regional NSW first pick when it comes to filling their training positions for specialist physicians.

“These are the specialists of the future, the cardiologists and geriatricians and other specialists our health system needs,” Mr Iemma said.

The recruiting results have been impressive.

“The Concord – Nepean Network which comprises Concord, Nepean, Ryde, Blue Mountains and Tweed Hospitals will have 40 trainee specialists next year – a 42% increase on 2004.

“The Hunter Regional Network of John Hunter, the Mater, the Royal Newcastle, Belmont Maitland, Tamworth and Wyong Hospitals will have 53 trainees in 2005 – a 30% increase.

“The Northern Sydney Network., comprising Royal North Shore, Gosford, Manly, Mona Vale and Lismore will have 38 trainees – a 40% increase.

“There is no substitute for Federal Government action to fund more positions in universities to train doctors and nurses, but where possible the NSW Government is doing what it can to ensure we have a sustainable medical workforce.

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