BEATTIE GOVERNMENT ACHIEVES HEALTH RECRUITMENT TARGETS

Queensland public hospitals have 2,810 more doctors, nurses and allied health professionals on staff than a year ago, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

“That’s more than double the target we set ourselves through the Health Action Plan to recruit an extra 300 doctors, 500 nurses and 400 allied health professionals by December 2006,” he said.

“Queensland Health clinical workforce statistics for August show our public hospitals have increased their clinical staff since June 2005 by:

·397 extra doctors (132% of 300 target)

·1,812 extra nurses (362% of 500 target)

·601 extra allied health professionals (150% of 400 target)

"These figures come from Queensland Health’s payroll database so they’re real doctors, real nurses and real allied health staff.

“That means we have 4,949 doctors working in our public hospitals today compared to 4,552 doctors in June 2005.

“We employ 23,723 nurses today compared to 21,911 in June 2005.

“And we have 6,407 allied health professionals compared to 5,806 in June last year.

“Our success to date in recruiting extra doctors, nurses and allied health staff is one indicator that we are starting to turn the corner on health.

“Its good progress but we still need more doctors, more nurses and more allied health staff.

“The Beattie Government will continue to recruit aggressively to ensure our hospitals have the clinical staff to deliver more surgery and better patient care for Queenslanders,” he said.
17 September 2006
MEDIA: JOSHUA COONEY 3234 1185 or 0409 069 056