EXTRA QUEENSLAND DOCTORS ARE NET INCREASES

Today’s recruitment figures show a NET increase of 548 doctors working in our public health system compared to June 2005, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said.

“Opposition Health spokesperson John-Paul Langbroek says resignations outnumber new recruits. That’s rubbish,” Mr Robertson said.

“The latest recruitment update on Queensland Health’s website – www.health.qld.gov.au –

clearly shows that we had 548 more doctors in December 2006 than what we had in June 2005.

“We have increased doctor numbers from 4,552 in June 2005 to 5,100 in December 2006.

“That’s a net increase meaning new medical staff are clearly outnumbering resignations by a huge margin.”

Mr Langbroek’s other gaffe is his claim that the increase is not backed up by hospital activity figures.

“Our public hospitals are treating a record number of public patients as evidenced in the latest publicly available Hospital Performance Report,” he said.

“The first quarter of 2006-07 saw 204,666 patients treated – a record figure and up more than 4,000 patients or 2.7 percent from the same period the previous year.

“Without our extra clinicians filling positions in our hospitals across the State, these performance figures would not be possible.”

Mr Robertson said the AMAQ was also wrong to suggest the increase in doctors was solely made up of last year’s and this year’s interns.

“The December figures do not include this year’s interns because they would not have been on Queensland Health’s payroll at that time,” he said.

“Medical staffing increases have been recorded across the board from interns and junior doctors to registrars and principal house officers to senior medical officers, specialists and visiting medical officers.

“I urge Mr Langbroek to check the publicly available data on Queensland Health’s website before making any more wild accusations about our public health system.”

17 Janaury,  2007
MEDIA: Joshua Cooney 3234 1185