18 December 2004

Tamworth class of 2004 - Medical specialist recruitment

Medical services in the New England have been boosted with the appointment of 14 specialists to Tamworth Base Hospital this year – with another two expected to commence in the new year.

NSW Minister for Health Morris Iemma said New England Area Health Service was making excellent progress in attracting highly specialised health workers to rural NSW.

“Despite the NSW medical, nursing and allied health workforce shortage, New England Area Health Service’s innovative and determined approach to attracting health professionals to rural areas is achieving great results,” Mr Iemma said.

Over the past 12 months, Tamworth Base Hospital has successfully recruited:

• 2 VMO GP Anaesthetists
• 2 VMO Cardiologists
• 2 VMO Opthalmologists
• 1 VMO Urologist
• 2 Obstetrics and Gynaecology Staff Specialists
• 2 Emergency Department Staff Specialists
• 1 Medical Registrar
• 1 Psychiatric CMO
• 1 Director of Clinical Governance

An additional Obstetrics and Gynaecology Staff Specialist and an Orthopaedic Staff Specialist will commence work in March 2005.

“Some of these appointments are a direct indication that the restructure of Area Health Services is showing positive results to attract health professionals to the North West.

“The recruitment of medical specialists to the North West means improvements to local services and a reduction in the need for patients to travel to Newcastle or Sydney for treatment,” Mr Iemma said.

The announcement of 14 new specialists follows the Minister’s visit to Gunnedah and Tamworth where he assessed the issues relating of the medical workforce in the region.

“The support of the Member for Tamworth, Peter Draper and Gunnedah Council in developing the Medical Centre at Gunnedah Health Service shows the community commitment to developing health services and attracting the health workforce to the region.

“This commitment acts as a draw card and support network to health professionals seeking work in regional centres,” Mr Iemma said.

The announcement also comes at a time when 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.

“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.

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

“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 on last year,” said Mr Iemma.

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