Coalition to tackle the problem of the shortage of Doctors, Nurses and Dentists
August 4, 2010
A Coalition Government will invest $27 million for a regional Medical Workforce Plan to help increase the number of doctors, nurses and dentists in regional Australia.
Dr Sharman Stone, Federal Member for Murray, said it is obvious that medical professionals are thin on the ground in rural and regional Victoria.
“When a community hears that one of their hand full of doctors is leaving or perhaps the only doctor in town is going elsewhere it can take years to find a replacement,” Sharman Stone said.
“It is not uncommon to wait weeks to get an appointment with your GP or local dentist, and many in our community are forced to travel long distances to get to an appointment.
“There is a huge gap between health services in metropolitan areas and the regional areas and the Coalition strongly believes incentives are needed to help retain medical professionals and encourage them to stay working and living in the country.”
Sharman Stone, Federal Member for Murray said the Coalition will:
· Double the number of medical rural bonded scholarships to 200,
· Fund 100 university places for nurses working in regional areas to pursue credentials that qualify them to be nurse practitioners,
· Give a $10,000 annual bonus to nurse practitioners who practice in regional towns without a resident medical practitioner; and
· Undertake a pilot for bonded scholarships for rural and regional dentists.
“The Rudd-Gillard Labor Government has been all talk and no action with its promise of 36 GP Super Clinics and delivery of only three. Labor also promised 7750 nurses and delivered only 336 before they scrapped the program.
“The Coalition understands the importance of supporting our medical professionals and will not let our important health services be ignored any longer,” Sharman Stone said.
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