Budget must fix health workforce

“It is clear that shortages and maldistribution of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists and allied health workers are affecting communities from our biggest cities to our most remote communities,” AMA Queensland President Dr Maria Boulton said.

“We are seeing bed shortages, ambulance ramping, long waits in emergency departments and long waits for elective surgeries. We have maternity units in regional areas on indefinite bypass, forcing families to drive long distances and risk having a baby on the side of the highway.

“It is only the dedication and altruism of the doctors, nurses and healthcare workers that are keeping our health system working.

“At the same time we are seeing general practice becoming increasingly financially unviable, with general practices closing or reducing their hours.

“We know where some of the worst shortages are, but we don’t know where the workforce will come from to fill these gaps.

“The government has announced some incentives to attract international and interstate healthcare workers to regional Queensland, but this only applies to Queensland Health workers. We would like to see this expanded to GPs and other private practitioners, and more support to retain those workers who are already in regional areas.

“We would also like to see Queensland follow Victoria’s lead and offer $30,000 incentive payments for graduates to choose general practice as their specialty.

“The Queensland Government must likewise exempt general practices from payroll tax. If they don’t, many will be forced to stop bulk-billing or close, and patients will flood our already-bursting emergency departments.

“There is a crisis in our maternity workforce. We need more GP obstetricians. The government should invest $800,000 for 20 GPs to undertake obstetrics training, and incentives for GPs to maintain and upskill to meet regional, rural and remote need.

“We also need state-wide credentialing so doctors can work in different areas without red tape.

“Queensland Health’s Workforce Plan must take the needs of all communities into account and identify where the shortages are and how they can be resolved. The Plan must include private hospitals, GPs and other private specialists, aged care and NDIS workers, and allied health workers like pharmacists and physiotherapists. It cannot just look at our hardworking public hospital staff.

“We have raised our concerns with the new Health Minister and look forward to seeing some real action in the 13 June budget.”

AMA Queensland has eight key priority areas for action:

• Women’s Health: Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• General Practice
• PhD Research: Medical Workforce Job Analysis
• 2022-23 Outstanding Budget Priorities
• Refugee and IMG Support
• Climate Change
• Voluntary Assisted Dying
• Drug Law Reform

The AMA Queensland Pre-Budget Submission is available here.