❓ This WA parliamentary question on notice reveals significant doctor and nurse vacancies in regional and rural public hospitals as of June 1, 2007, along with the duration of these vacancies and strategies to address staffing shortages.
AnsweredQoN 2453Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(a) how many vacancies were there for doctors as at 1 June 2007 in each regional and rural public hospital in Western Australia;
(b) where were those vacancies and for how long have these vacancies existed;
(c) how many vacancies were there for nurses at 1 June 2007 in each regional and rural public hospital in Western Australia; and
(d) where were those vacancies and for how long have these vacancies existed?
(b) where were those vacancies and for how long have these vacancies existed;
(c) how many vacancies were there for nurses at 1 June 2007 in each regional and rural public hospital in Western Australia; and
(d) where were those vacancies and for how long have these vacancies existed?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 August 2007
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
55 days
(a) and (b)
There were 17.8 full time equivalent (FTE) vacancies for doctors as at 1 June 2007.
Broome
1
6 months
Derby
2.5
various
Kununurra
1
12 months
Albany
1
32 months
Kalgoorlie
1
12 months
Merredin
0.5
6 months
Bunbury/Busselton
Emergency Dept Roster
8
various
Port Hedland
2.8
various
Notes:
i. Doctors are currently in short supply and as a result, it can take a considerable time to locate and engage replacements for vacant positions. Where medical positions are vacant, interim arrangements are put in place utilising locum doctors until a permanent replacement is in place.
ii. Measures to attract and retain doctors in rural areas include: provision of subsidised accommodation; establishment of a Clinical Workforce Support Unit to focus on clinical recruitment initiatives; sponsorship for overseas doctors wishing to work in Western Australia, including relocation assistance; negotiation of a new enterprise bargaining agreement covering salaried doctors.
(c) and (d)
There were 103 vacancies for nurses as at 1 June 2007.
Laverton
2
longstanding
Leonora
1
longstanding
Norseman
3
various
Kalgoorlie
14.2
various
Beverley
2
1 and 2 months
Bruce Rock
2.5
various
Corrigin
2.6
various
Dalwallinu
2
6 months
Kellerberrin
1
4 months
Kondinin
1.2
12 months
Lake Grace
1
12 months
Merredin
1
6 months
Moora
1
18 months
Narembeen
3
1-4 months
Narrogin
1
1 month
Northam
2.5
various
Pingelly
2
6 months
Southern Cross
1
12 months
Wagin
1
1 month
Wongan Hills
3
various
Wyalkatchem
4
various
York
0.4
2 months
Busselton
10
various
Collie
3.4
various
Bunbury
10
various
Port Hedland
6
various
Nickol Bay
7.4
various
Onslow
2.5
various
Roebourne
1
longstanding
Tom Price
1.5
longstanding
Praburdoo
2.1
longstanding
Exmouth
1.2
5 months
Northampton
2
various
Mullewa
2
12 months
Three Springs
1.5
12 months
Notes:
(i) Where vacancies exist, they are covered by the engagement of agency, contract or casual staff while recruitment of permanent staff is progressed. Vacancies indicated as 'longstanding' are in locations with high turnover rates. In these locations, the resignation rate tends to equal the recruitment rate, so that there are vacancies in the nursing establishment at most times. The duration of vacancies is listed as 'various' are where there are multiple vacancies that have existed for a widely varying period of time. In these locations, the average duration of vacancies is generally two to three months.
(ii) Strategies used to attract nurses to work in country areas include: 'Ocean to outback' program to attract new post graduate nurses; 'Country to coast' program for experienced nurses to rotate through a variety of hospitals; promotion of opportunities for Nurse Practitioners to work in rural health; project being undertaken to increase the number of positions available for new graduate nurses in country hospitals; establishment of a 'direct-entry' graduate mental health program to allow newly graduated registered nurses to commence work in mental health units; promotion of careers in rural nursing at the annual Perth Nursing Expo; and extensive advertising within Australia and overseas to attract nurses to difficult to staff areas.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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There were 17.8 full time equivalent (FTE) vacancies for doctors as at 1 June 2007.
Broome
1
6 months
Derby
2.5
various
Kununurra
1
12 months
Albany
1
32 months
Kalgoorlie
1
12 months
Merredin
0.5
6 months
Bunbury/Busselton
Emergency Dept Roster
8
various
Port Hedland
2.8
various
Notes:
i. Doctors are currently in short supply and as a result, it can take a considerable time to locate and engage replacements for vacant positions. Where medical positions are vacant, interim arrangements are put in place utilising locum doctors until a permanent replacement is in place.
ii. Measures to attract and retain doctors in rural areas include: provision of subsidised accommodation; establishment of a Clinical Workforce Support Unit to focus on clinical recruitment initiatives; sponsorship for overseas doctors wishing to work in Western Australia, including relocation assistance; negotiation of a new enterprise bargaining agreement covering salaried doctors.
(c) and (d)
There were 103 vacancies for nurses as at 1 June 2007.
Laverton
2
longstanding
Leonora
1
longstanding
Norseman
3
various
Kalgoorlie
14.2
various
Beverley
2
1 and 2 months
Bruce Rock
2.5
various
Corrigin
2.6
various
Dalwallinu
2
6 months
Kellerberrin
1
4 months
Kondinin
1.2
12 months
Lake Grace
1
12 months
Merredin
1
6 months
Moora
1
18 months
Narembeen
3
1-4 months
Narrogin
1
1 month
Northam
2.5
various
Pingelly
2
6 months
Southern Cross
1
12 months
Wagin
1
1 month
Wongan Hills
3
various
Wyalkatchem
4
various
York
0.4
2 months
Busselton
10
various
Collie
3.4
various
Bunbury
10
various
Port Hedland
6
various
Nickol Bay
7.4
various
Onslow
2.5
various
Roebourne
1
longstanding
Tom Price
1.5
longstanding
Praburdoo
2.1
longstanding
Exmouth
1.2
5 months
Northampton
2
various
Mullewa
2
12 months
Three Springs
1.5
12 months
Notes:
(i) Where vacancies exist, they are covered by the engagement of agency, contract or casual staff while recruitment of permanent staff is progressed. Vacancies indicated as 'longstanding' are in locations with high turnover rates. In these locations, the resignation rate tends to equal the recruitment rate, so that there are vacancies in the nursing establishment at most times. The duration of vacancies is listed as 'various' are where there are multiple vacancies that have existed for a widely varying period of time. In these locations, the average duration of vacancies is generally two to three months.
(ii) Strategies used to attract nurses to work in country areas include: 'Ocean to outback' program to attract new post graduate nurses; 'Country to coast' program for experienced nurses to rotate through a variety of hospitals; promotion of opportunities for Nurse Practitioners to work in rural health; project being undertaken to increase the number of positions available for new graduate nurses in country hospitals; establishment of a 'direct-entry' graduate mental health program to allow newly graduated registered nurses to commence work in mental health units; promotion of careers in rural nursing at the annual Perth Nursing Expo; and extensive advertising within Australia and overseas to attract nurses to difficult to staff areas.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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