Published Thursday, 25 January, 2007 at 10:27 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
BEATTIE GOVT INCREASES FUTURE DOCTORS FOR QLD
Beattie Government scholarships have helped increase the number of Queensland medical students commencing in 2007 to an expected 669 – 107 more than last year.
Premier Peter Beattie and Health Minister Stephen Robertson today visited Griffith University on the Gold Coast to welcome 150 new medical students, including 50 State Government scholarship holders.
“Queensland’s four medical schools anticipate 669 domestic medical students starting this year, the highest number ever,” Mr Beattie said.
“This includes 50 Griffith University students who have received a State Government scholarship, which will ultimately increase the number of Australian-trained doctors working in Queensland’s public health system.
“Thirty-five scholarship holders started last year and over five years we are investing $60 million to fund 235 medical places at Griffith University.
“These students will be bonded to work in Queensland once they graduate.
“They are our doctors of tomorrow and will be providing quality health care to Queenslanders where it is needed most, particularly in rural and regional areas.”
Mr Beattie said he expected Queensland medical students to increase in future years as a result of Queensland’s successful lobbying for the Federal Government to fund more medical school places in the Smart State.
“Australian states are now paying the price for the Howard Government’s decision many years ago to freeze the number of medical places in Australian universities.
“The doctor shortage is being felt across the country, and my Government is doing something about it.”
Mr Robertson said another important initiative - Queensland Health’s Rural Medical Scholarship Scheme – was also securing more doctors in the bush.
“This year, the State Government increased the number of new rural medical scholarships offered to Queensland students from 20 to 30,” Mr Robertson said.
“Under the scheme, Queensland Health provides financial assistance to Queensland medical students to pay their student contributions to their medical school.
“The students then repay Queensland Health by working in a rural public hospital for around four years after they graduate.
“The scheme is currently assisting 71 undergraduates who will be bonded to work for Queensland Health once they graduate.
“A further 83 rural medical scholarship holders have already graduated and are working for Queensland Health or undergoing advanced skills training.”
Mr Robertson said Queensland’s medical recruitment had been extremely successful with Queensland Health doctor numbers increasing from 4,552 to 5,100 in the 18 months to December 2006.
“That was almost 200 per cent above our target and it was achieved without compromising Queensland’s tough and thorough screening processes,” he said.
Mr Beattie said the $10 billion Queensland Health Action Plan recognised that more needed to be done to train the medical workforce of the future.
“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.
“These new positions will ensure that Queensland graduates are able to undertake their internship in Queensland – it’s about getting more Queensland doctors working in Queensland hospitals.”
25 January 2007
MEDIA:
Premier’s Office: 3224 4500
Health Minister’s Office: Joshua Cooney 3234 1185
Premier Peter Beattie and Health Minister Stephen Robertson today visited Griffith University on the Gold Coast to welcome 150 new medical students, including 50 State Government scholarship holders.
“Queensland’s four medical schools anticipate 669 domestic medical students starting this year, the highest number ever,” Mr Beattie said.
“This includes 50 Griffith University students who have received a State Government scholarship, which will ultimately increase the number of Australian-trained doctors working in Queensland’s public health system.
“Thirty-five scholarship holders started last year and over five years we are investing $60 million to fund 235 medical places at Griffith University.
“These students will be bonded to work in Queensland once they graduate.
“They are our doctors of tomorrow and will be providing quality health care to Queenslanders where it is needed most, particularly in rural and regional areas.”
Mr Beattie said he expected Queensland medical students to increase in future years as a result of Queensland’s successful lobbying for the Federal Government to fund more medical school places in the Smart State.
“Australian states are now paying the price for the Howard Government’s decision many years ago to freeze the number of medical places in Australian universities.
“The doctor shortage is being felt across the country, and my Government is doing something about it.”
Mr Robertson said another important initiative - Queensland Health’s Rural Medical Scholarship Scheme – was also securing more doctors in the bush.
“This year, the State Government increased the number of new rural medical scholarships offered to Queensland students from 20 to 30,” Mr Robertson said.
“Under the scheme, Queensland Health provides financial assistance to Queensland medical students to pay their student contributions to their medical school.
“The students then repay Queensland Health by working in a rural public hospital for around four years after they graduate.
“The scheme is currently assisting 71 undergraduates who will be bonded to work for Queensland Health once they graduate.
“A further 83 rural medical scholarship holders have already graduated and are working for Queensland Health or undergoing advanced skills training.”
Mr Robertson said Queensland’s medical recruitment had been extremely successful with Queensland Health doctor numbers increasing from 4,552 to 5,100 in the 18 months to December 2006.
“That was almost 200 per cent above our target and it was achieved without compromising Queensland’s tough and thorough screening processes,” he said.
Mr Beattie said the $10 billion Queensland Health Action Plan recognised that more needed to be done to train the medical workforce of the future.
“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.
“These new positions will ensure that Queensland graduates are able to undertake their internship in Queensland – it’s about getting more Queensland doctors working in Queensland hospitals.”
25 January 2007
MEDIA:
Premier’s Office: 3224 4500
Health Minister’s Office: Joshua Cooney 3234 1185