Interns to help reduce regional doctor shortages

Press Release from The Nationals:

Health services in Geraldton today received a boost with medical interns set to start work at the town’s hospital, Nationals candidate Shane Van Styn said.

Three graduates will be based in Geraldton as part of five rotations in 2013 focusing on general medicine, general surgery and emergency medicine.

This commitment follows the Nationals strong track record in regional health which has seen Royalties for Regions investing more than $2.3 million in health projects in the mid-west region in 2011-12.

“Exposing medical interns to regional hospitals and giving graduates from the country the opportunity to return to rural WA is an excellent step towards beating doctor shortages.” Mr Van Styn said.

“Regional WA offers a bounty of professional opportunities for medical interns and this State-Government funded program, which will also be accepting interns from interstate medical schools, will open up attractive prospects on offer outside metropolitan hospitals.”

Mr Van Styn said the number of internships in WA had risen to 300 up from a low of 177 in 2008 and this increase would improve health care in regional WA.

“This is a 70 per cent increase and the investment in new doctors,” Mr Van Styn said.

“Making sure Regional WA continues to recruit and train more doctors remains a priority for the WA Nationals and this program works towards that goal.”