Published Tuesday, 05 June, 2007 at 02:30 PM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
$145 million health boost to clinical training and education
The Beattie Government will invest an additional $145 million to improve clinical training and education opportunities for Queensland’s doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today the four-year budget initiative targets clinical staff entering the health system for the first time as well as enhance professional development opportunities for existing staff.
“A better skilled and trained clinical workforce can only result in better outcomes for patients.
“These initiatives will also help Queensland recruit and retain the extra doctors, nurses and allied health staff it needs to meet the health demands of a growing and ageing population.
Mr Robertson said the $145 million funding package - including $25 million in 2007-08 - delivers on the government’s commitment to provide improved clinical training and education for doctors, nurses and allied health staff.
The package includes:
$33 million over four years to develop infrastructure for clinical education and training for junior doctors and to fund additional intern positions for medical graduates in public hospitals.
$3.7 million to implement a new Clinical Placement Model for medical students in hospitals from January 2008.
$1 million in 2007-08 to develop strategies for nursing education, training, recruitment and retention.
$1 million in 2007-08 for further development of the midwifery workforce.
$0.5 million to establish a new senior position within Queensland Health as Director of Post Graduate Medical Education.
More than $2.5 million will be used to improve the level of available medical education support across Queensland; including the funding of new roles for Network and Network hub Directors of Clinical Training.
$210,000 will be invested in 2007-08 to create six new rural generalist intern elective positions in Stanthorpe, Warwick, Roma, Innisfail, Proserpine and Atherton.
$230,000 will be invested to create additional post graduate Year 2 positions in rural generalist training centres to facilitate rural generalist trainees’ access to specific pre-vocational training terms commencing in January 2008.
$675,000 per year will continue the 10 joint State-Commonwealth funded speciality training posts in rural and regional areas through the Advanced Specialist Trainee Posts in Rural Areas scheme.
$120,000 will be provided by Queensland Health in 2008 to provide all interns with access to advanced life support training.
$540,000 will be provided from January 2008 for interns to undertake one week of paid orientation prior to commencement of the medical year.
The use of electronic learning portfolios for interns will be piloted in 2008 at a cost of $200,000.
Additional training positions and infrastructure for the delivery of vocational training will also be funded; including 30 specialty vocational training posts from January 2008.
$120,000 will be allocated to implement a nationally developed program called Professional Development for Registrars.
Mr Robertson said the package will implement the recommendations of his Ministerial Taskforce on Clinical Education and Training.
“Importantly, the government will provide funding to support enhanced medical student placements, graduate entry positions, and training in our hospitals.
“This reflects our commitment to provide training positions for the expected, but belated, increase in medical students coming through our universities.
“The Beattie Government campaigned successfully to force the Howard Government to increase medical student places at universities to overcome the national doctor shortage of Canberra’s own creation.
“Queensland Health has traditionally had the role of training all new doctors entering the health system, whether they go on to work in public hospitals, as GPs or in a private hospital.”
“Funding will also be provided to support the implementation of new public/private speciality training positions consistent with COAG commitments,” Mr Robertson said.
5 June, 2007
MEDIA: PAUL LYNCH 3234 1190
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today the four-year budget initiative targets clinical staff entering the health system for the first time as well as enhance professional development opportunities for existing staff.
“A better skilled and trained clinical workforce can only result in better outcomes for patients.
“These initiatives will also help Queensland recruit and retain the extra doctors, nurses and allied health staff it needs to meet the health demands of a growing and ageing population.
Mr Robertson said the $145 million funding package - including $25 million in 2007-08 - delivers on the government’s commitment to provide improved clinical training and education for doctors, nurses and allied health staff.
The package includes:
$33 million over four years to develop infrastructure for clinical education and training for junior doctors and to fund additional intern positions for medical graduates in public hospitals.
$3.7 million to implement a new Clinical Placement Model for medical students in hospitals from January 2008.
$1 million in 2007-08 to develop strategies for nursing education, training, recruitment and retention.
$1 million in 2007-08 for further development of the midwifery workforce.
$0.5 million to establish a new senior position within Queensland Health as Director of Post Graduate Medical Education.
More than $2.5 million will be used to improve the level of available medical education support across Queensland; including the funding of new roles for Network and Network hub Directors of Clinical Training.
$210,000 will be invested in 2007-08 to create six new rural generalist intern elective positions in Stanthorpe, Warwick, Roma, Innisfail, Proserpine and Atherton.
$230,000 will be invested to create additional post graduate Year 2 positions in rural generalist training centres to facilitate rural generalist trainees’ access to specific pre-vocational training terms commencing in January 2008.
$675,000 per year will continue the 10 joint State-Commonwealth funded speciality training posts in rural and regional areas through the Advanced Specialist Trainee Posts in Rural Areas scheme.
$120,000 will be provided by Queensland Health in 2008 to provide all interns with access to advanced life support training.
$540,000 will be provided from January 2008 for interns to undertake one week of paid orientation prior to commencement of the medical year.
The use of electronic learning portfolios for interns will be piloted in 2008 at a cost of $200,000.
Additional training positions and infrastructure for the delivery of vocational training will also be funded; including 30 specialty vocational training posts from January 2008.
$120,000 will be allocated to implement a nationally developed program called Professional Development for Registrars.
Mr Robertson said the package will implement the recommendations of his Ministerial Taskforce on Clinical Education and Training.
“Importantly, the government will provide funding to support enhanced medical student placements, graduate entry positions, and training in our hospitals.
“This reflects our commitment to provide training positions for the expected, but belated, increase in medical students coming through our universities.
“The Beattie Government campaigned successfully to force the Howard Government to increase medical student places at universities to overcome the national doctor shortage of Canberra’s own creation.
“Queensland Health has traditionally had the role of training all new doctors entering the health system, whether they go on to work in public hospitals, as GPs or in a private hospital.”
“Funding will also be provided to support the implementation of new public/private speciality training positions consistent with COAG commitments,” Mr Robertson said.
5 June, 2007
MEDIA: PAUL LYNCH 3234 1190