Published Wednesday, 17 January, 2007 at 09:36 AM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
BEATTIE GOVT EXCEEDS HEALTH RECRUITMENT TARGETS
New figures released today show the Beattie Government has easily met its Health Action Plan recruitment targets, increasing its total number of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals by 3,479 over 18 months.
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said at the end of December 2006, Queensland Health employed 5,100 doctors, 24,020 nurses and 6,592 allied health professionals.
“In 2005 when the State Government launched its $10 billion Health Action Plan, we promised Queenslanders that we would recruit an extra 300 doctors, 500 nurses and 400 allied health workers into the public health system in 18 months,” he said.
“Well we achieved those targets by June last year, six months ahead of schedule.
“In fact, upon reaching the December deadline we have exceeded those targets by 248 doctors, 1,609 nurses and 386 allied health professionals through filling vacant positions in our public health system.
“That means we have 5,100 doctors working in our public hospitals today compared to 4,552 doctors in June 2005.
“We employ 24,020 nurses today compared to 21,911 in June 2005.
“And we have 6,592 allied health professionals compared to 5,806 in June 2005.”
Mr Robertson said Queensland Health was still recruiting to key vacancy areas across the State including mental health, midwifery, aged care and medicine for nursing; psychiatry, internal medicine, emergency medicine and anaesthetics for medical officers; and physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work and pharmacy for allied health.
He said dentists were also highly sought after for Queensland Health’s public oral health services.
“A key part of our recruitment activity has been the highly successful Work For Us campaign which targets clinicians from overseas,” Mr Robertson said.
“Through the campaign, which began in September 2005, Queensland Health has appointed or is in the process of appointing 177 clinicians from overseas, including 100 doctors.
“A further 376 clinicians from overseas, including 265 doctors, are currently under consideration so the campaign has been a resounding success.
“Importantly, we have recruited this high number of clinicians without compromising Queensland’s tough and thorough screening processes.
“Queensland Health has declined 2,256 expressions of interest from Australia and overseas because the applicants did not have the required qualifications, skills and experience to meet our high standards.
“The massive workforce increase directly translates to better health services for Queenslanders including record numbers of patients treated in our public hospitals.”
The December update of the Queensland Health Action Plan recruitment report can be found under About Us - Our Performance on www.health.qld.gov.au.
17 January, 2007
MEDIA: Joshua Cooney 3234 1185
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said at the end of December 2006, Queensland Health employed 5,100 doctors, 24,020 nurses and 6,592 allied health professionals.
“In 2005 when the State Government launched its $10 billion Health Action Plan, we promised Queenslanders that we would recruit an extra 300 doctors, 500 nurses and 400 allied health workers into the public health system in 18 months,” he said.
“Well we achieved those targets by June last year, six months ahead of schedule.
“In fact, upon reaching the December deadline we have exceeded those targets by 248 doctors, 1,609 nurses and 386 allied health professionals through filling vacant positions in our public health system.
“That means we have 5,100 doctors working in our public hospitals today compared to 4,552 doctors in June 2005.
“We employ 24,020 nurses today compared to 21,911 in June 2005.
“And we have 6,592 allied health professionals compared to 5,806 in June 2005.”
Mr Robertson said Queensland Health was still recruiting to key vacancy areas across the State including mental health, midwifery, aged care and medicine for nursing; psychiatry, internal medicine, emergency medicine and anaesthetics for medical officers; and physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work and pharmacy for allied health.
He said dentists were also highly sought after for Queensland Health’s public oral health services.
“A key part of our recruitment activity has been the highly successful Work For Us campaign which targets clinicians from overseas,” Mr Robertson said.
“Through the campaign, which began in September 2005, Queensland Health has appointed or is in the process of appointing 177 clinicians from overseas, including 100 doctors.
“A further 376 clinicians from overseas, including 265 doctors, are currently under consideration so the campaign has been a resounding success.
“Importantly, we have recruited this high number of clinicians without compromising Queensland’s tough and thorough screening processes.
“Queensland Health has declined 2,256 expressions of interest from Australia and overseas because the applicants did not have the required qualifications, skills and experience to meet our high standards.
“The massive workforce increase directly translates to better health services for Queenslanders including record numbers of patients treated in our public hospitals.”
The December update of the Queensland Health Action Plan recruitment report can be found under About Us - Our Performance on www.health.qld.gov.au.
17 January, 2007
MEDIA: Joshua Cooney 3234 1185