Coalition will boost front line regional health services
30th July, 2010
Federal Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss today said a Coalition Government will boost number of doctors, dentists and nurses practising in rural and regional areas."One of the biggest issues for medical care in Wide Bay is the shortage of medical staff. There are over 300 medical practitioners employed per 100,000 people in Australia's major cities, yet there are only about half that in many regional areas," Mr Truss said.
The Coalition's $27 million Regional Medical Workforce Plan will help increase the number of doctors, nurses and dentists in regional and remote Australia.
The Labor Government promised to "improve health services and end the blame game" but the blame game continues with review after review and no action.
Labor promised 36 GP Super Clinics but they have only delivered three. Labor promised to return 7,750 public hospital nurses to the workforce but only delivered 366 nurses in the first year. Labor promised to return 1,000 aged care nurses but the program ended with just 150 nurses.
"Regional Australia has borne the brunt of Labor's broken promises, their waste and their mismanagement. The health of regional Australians is being put at risk under Labor," Mr Truss said.
"A Coalition Government will increase the size of the regional health workforce and provide regional patients with access to quality healthcare.
"Our team will double the number of rural scholarships for medical students who commit to working in a rural community for at least three years.
"In regional towns that have no resident medical practitioner, we will pay annual bonuses to Nurse Practitioners. In addition, we will fund 100 additional scholarships to rural and regional nurses to become Nurse Practitioners."
Mr Truss said the Coalition will also address the shortage of dental care in rural areas.
"Some people wait up to four years for non emergency public dental treatment. The Coalition will introduce a pilot scholarship scheme for dental students who commit to working in a rural area," Mr Truss said.
"Every Australian whether they live in Brisbane or Wide Bay deserves equal access to healthcare services.
"The Coalition will address the disparity in health services and increase the number of doctors, nurses and dentists in our regions. We will look after the health of regional Australia by taking real action to boost front line medical services," Mr Truss said.
To increase the size of the rural health workforce and to provide rural patients with access to quality healthcare, a Coalition Government will:
1. Double the number of Medical Rural Bonded Scholarships
The Coalition will double the number of bonded scholarships under the Medical Rural Bonded Scholarships scheme from 100 to 200.
2. Fully fund 100 university places for rural and regional nurses
The Coalition will increase the scholarships available for registered nurses in rural and remote areas to pursue qualifications to become nurse practitioners.
The Coalition will fully fund 100 university places for nurses working in rural and regional areas to undertake their training.
3. Pay a $10,000 annual bonus to nurse practitioners who practice in regional towns with no resident medical practitioner
The Coalition will introduce an annual $10,000 bonus to nurse practitioners who choose to practice in remote regional towns.
4. Pilot a bonded scholarship scheme for rural and regional dentists
The Coalition will pilot a rural bonded scholarships scheme. 20 scholarships will be offered on similar terms to the Medical Rural Bonded Scholarships programme for a period of four years.
