Queensland welcomes 749 new doctors

More than 740 new doctors today began their careers caring for Queenslanders at public hospitals across the state.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk congratulated 94 of Queensland’s new starters at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital on beginning their careers, and welcomed them to the Queensland Health family.

“Today is a huge milestone for these new doctors as they begin their long and rewarding careers in medicine,” Premier Palaszczuk said.

“During the election campaign we promised a renewed focus on health, and we are already delivering just a few weeks into the New Year. Across the state we have 749 new doctors taking up positions at Queensland Health hospitals—an increase from the 738 we welcomed last year.

“We are committed to bettering the health of Queenslanders, no matter where they live, and each of these new doctors will have an invaluable impact on lives right across the state.”

Acting Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman said the latest cohort of medical interns was spread across Queensland.

“While we’re celebrating our newest doctors in the heart of Brisbane today, more than half of them are beginning their rotations in regional hospitals, all of which are excellent training grounds,” Ms Fentiman said.

“I’m also pleased to see that 66 of these junior clinicians have shown an interest in rural and remote medicine by accepting rural generalist internships.

“We recognise we have a role in equipping our future medical workforce with the necessary skills and experience and that’s what we’re doing.

“I’m sure our new interns will have rewarding careers caring for communities throughout Queensland.”

Metro North Hospital and Health Service (MNHHS) Chief Executive Shaun Drummond said the 163 new interns across four of the service’s hospitals would be joining the ranks of some of the world’s most renowned and decorated doctors.

“It’s exciting to welcome these new recruits to our healthcare ranks,” Mr Drummond said.

“We have an outstanding team of medical professionals here, so I know these graduates will take advantage of the opportunities available to them at our hospitals.

“Their decisions to preference our hospital shows the national and international standard of our training institutions and research facilities.”

Of the 163 interns at MNHHS, 94 are placed at RBWH; 25 at The Prince Charles Hospital; 27 at Redcliffe Hospital and 17 at Caboolture Hospital.

The new interns are participating in a week-long orientation program to familiarise themselves with each hospital, its services and clinical practice and procedures before beginning rotations through a variety of units that may include general medicine, surgery, emergency medicine and additional elective terms in other specialised areas.

Media contact: Geoff Breusch 0417 272 875