Published Thursday, 29 March, 2007 at 10:04 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
UK TRIP TO NET ANOTHER 130 NURSES FOR QUEENSLAND
A recruitment drive in the United Kingdom this month has been a resounding success with 130 British nurses being offered jobs with Queensland Health, Premier Peter Beattie and Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.
Mr Beattie said the nurses had been approached for positions throughout Queensland, from the Gold Coast to the Torres Strait.
He said a team of Queensland Health recruitment experts were on the hunt for experienced nurses in the UK during an intensive two-week campaign which featured a nursing specific expo in Manchester.
“The team worked flat out to find the right people for nursing vacancies in Queensland’s public health system and that is exactly what they achieved,” Mr Beattie said.
“In fact, 130 nurses (93 percent of those interviewed) have been offered jobs dependent on their meeting Queensland’s registration requirements.
“Several of the nurses offered jobs already have their Queensland registration.”
Mr Robertson said 31 nurses were offered jobs in the Northern Area, 25 in the Central Area and 34 in Southern with locations for the other 40 candidates to be determined.
“The Gold Coast looks set to benefit the most from this latest recruitment drive with 20 nurses offered jobs there,” he said.
“Mackay is next with 13, the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and Townsville with nine and the Princess Alexandra with eight.
“Nurses have been offered positions in many other locations including Mount Isa, the Torres Strait, Atherton, Cairns, Innisfail, Rockhampton, Hervey Bay, the Sunshine Coast, Ipswich and Toowoomba.”
Mr Robertson said the five nursing specialties which attracted the most candidates were maternity (14), aged care (13), emergency (nine) and mental health and orthopaedics (six).
“The recruitment team is maintaining contact with all nurses offered jobs and reference checks are underway and, in a lot of cases, complete,” he said.
“Registration forms where necessary have been collated and the associated documents will be immediately lodged with the Queensland Nursing Council to complete the appointment process as soon as possible.”
Mr Beattie said the latest recruitment news was yet another example of how Queensland Health had become an attractive workplace for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals from interstate and overseas.
“The latest staffing update shows that since June 2005 Queensland Health has increased its workforce by 934 doctors, 2,922 nurses and 1,038 allied health professionals,” he said.
“This has translated to record numbers of Queensland patients being treated and record amounts of surgery being performed during this time.”
29 March, 2007
MEDIA:
Premier’s Office: (07) 3224 4500
Health Minister’s Office: Joshua Cooney 3234 1185 or 0409 069 056
Mr Beattie said the nurses had been approached for positions throughout Queensland, from the Gold Coast to the Torres Strait.
He said a team of Queensland Health recruitment experts were on the hunt for experienced nurses in the UK during an intensive two-week campaign which featured a nursing specific expo in Manchester.
“The team worked flat out to find the right people for nursing vacancies in Queensland’s public health system and that is exactly what they achieved,” Mr Beattie said.
“In fact, 130 nurses (93 percent of those interviewed) have been offered jobs dependent on their meeting Queensland’s registration requirements.
“Several of the nurses offered jobs already have their Queensland registration.”
Mr Robertson said 31 nurses were offered jobs in the Northern Area, 25 in the Central Area and 34 in Southern with locations for the other 40 candidates to be determined.
“The Gold Coast looks set to benefit the most from this latest recruitment drive with 20 nurses offered jobs there,” he said.
“Mackay is next with 13, the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and Townsville with nine and the Princess Alexandra with eight.
“Nurses have been offered positions in many other locations including Mount Isa, the Torres Strait, Atherton, Cairns, Innisfail, Rockhampton, Hervey Bay, the Sunshine Coast, Ipswich and Toowoomba.”
Mr Robertson said the five nursing specialties which attracted the most candidates were maternity (14), aged care (13), emergency (nine) and mental health and orthopaedics (six).
“The recruitment team is maintaining contact with all nurses offered jobs and reference checks are underway and, in a lot of cases, complete,” he said.
“Registration forms where necessary have been collated and the associated documents will be immediately lodged with the Queensland Nursing Council to complete the appointment process as soon as possible.”
Mr Beattie said the latest recruitment news was yet another example of how Queensland Health had become an attractive workplace for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals from interstate and overseas.
“The latest staffing update shows that since June 2005 Queensland Health has increased its workforce by 934 doctors, 2,922 nurses and 1,038 allied health professionals,” he said.
“This has translated to record numbers of Queensland patients being treated and record amounts of surgery being performed during this time.”
29 March, 2007
MEDIA:
Premier’s Office: (07) 3224 4500
Health Minister’s Office: Joshua Cooney 3234 1185 or 0409 069 056