NEW DOCTORS AND NURSES SET TO START IN RECORD NUMBERS

Record numbers of graduate medical students and nurses will begin work at Queensland public hospitals in the New Year, Premier Peter Beattie said today.

“Queensland Health is providing a record 400 hospital internships in 2007 for young doctors entering the health system for the first time,” Mr Beattie said.

“That’s 81 more clinical training positions than the 319 internships we provided in January 2006.

“In addition, a record 883 graduate nurses have already accepted jobs as registered nurses with Queensland Health starting in January.

“That’s already 125 more graduate nurses than the 758 who started last January and those numbers will rise as we recruit more over coming months.”

A further 16 graduate nurses from the Queensland Health Rural Scholarship Scheme will also start work at rural and remote hospitals in January.

“These hospitals include: Gin Gin (1); Charleville (1); ChartersTowers (1); Innisfail (1); Mt Isa (2); Mt Morgan (1); Roma (4); Kingaroy (2); Goondiwindi (1); and Atherton (2).

“This is good news for Queensland because all these new doctors and nurses will be working at public hospitals throughout the State,” Mr Beattie said.

Mr Beattie said Queensland Health trains all young doctors entering the health system regardless whether they go on to work in public hospitals, as general practitioners, or elsewhere in the private sector.

“This year, 221 of the 226 medical students who graduated from the University of Queensland have accepted jobs with Queensland Health; as have 66 of the 74 graduate medical students from JamesCookUniversity.

“The 400 internships we’re providing ensure all these fledgling doctors have clinical training positions under the supervision of senior doctors in our hospitals.

“The remaining internships will be filled by graduate medical students from interstate and New Zealand universities who have also accepted jobs with Queensland Health.”

“Importantly, these extra interns will result in a medical staffing boost for those Queensland public hospitals which provide internships.

“For example, the Gold Coast Health District will have 72 interns at its Southport and Robina hospitals in 2007 compared to 37 this year.

“Mackay Base Hospital will double its interns from the present eight to 16 positions while other regional hospitals including Nambour, Rockhampton, Cairns, Toowoomba and Ipswich all have increases.

“TownsvilleHospital has accepted another 32 medical graduates for 2007 and 21 of these have been trained in the north at JamesCookUniversity.”

“This is a major achievement for both the JCU medical school and the hospital to retain so many locally-trained students,” Mr Beattie said.

Mr Beattie said Queensland Health would increase its number of internships again next year to accommodate expected increases in medical student graduations from Queensland universities.

“Queensland Health also continues to work with the AMAQ, medical colleges, unions and councils representing nurses and allied health staff to improve clinical training and professional development opportunities for our health workforce,” he said.

Media Contact: Premier’s office 3224 4500

Paul Lynch 0417 728 676

24 December 2006