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Action plan needed now to keep doctors in Victoria
AMA Victoria President Dr Mark Yates has today called on the State Government to develop a clear long-term action plan for training of new specialist doctors or face patients having long waits to access needed care.“This week more than 450 doctors took up specialist training places in Victoria, which is welcome.
“In coming years that number is set to substantially rise, inline with the increasing number of medical graduates. While this increase is necessary, it will put extreme pressure on public hospitals and senior doctors providing their training.
“Currently more doctors are retiring than graduating from medicine in Victoria, so there is no doubt the number of doctors being trained must increase.”
However, Dr Yates said it is not enough to simply increase the number of medical graduates.
“We need a long-term co-ordinated approach to the ongoing training of these doctors. To continue to produce quality doctors, Victorian hospitals will need senior doctors and funding to ensure training is of a suitable standard.”
After completing university, medical graduates traditionally complete one to two years working in a public hospital before beginning training in a specialist area such as surgery, obstetrics or general practice.
“The increasing number of new doctors coming through will put considerable pressure on hospitals. They need clear funding allocations for each specialist training position, so they can be properly resourced.
“A plan on how to attract doctors to areas of special need, such as geriatrics and pathology, is also needed," Dr Yates said.
“The State Government’s commitment to additional intern positions in 2006 was a great start, but if Victoria is to reduce its doctor shortage and continue to produce highly competent doctors, then a clear plan is needed.
“Hospitals need to be properly resourced to train these doctors, which includes ensuring senior staff are allocated specific time to teach and ensuring the trainee doctors have sufficient learning time and clinical exposure.
“Given the high number of doctors in Victoria heading towards retirement, measures must also be taken to ensure sufficient doctors remain in the system to train these doctors.
“On average more than 600 doctors retired each year between 2000 and 2004, and that trend is set to continue.
“It is vital the state government, working with the profession and hospitals, commits to providing increased specialist training places and develops a clear plan on how they will be successfully integrated and provided with dedicated funding,” Dr Yates said.
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