AN ADDITIONAL two junior doctors will be based in Mount Gambier from January as part of a State Government initiative to address the shortage of health practitioners in country areas.
The two interns will bring the total number of junior doctors completing their first year of on-the-job training in Mount Gambier to seven.
Mount Gambier Hospital director of medical services Dr Christopher Tan – who manages the hospital’s interns – welcomed the news yesterday.
“It’s great to see the government investing in rural health services,” Dr Tan said.
“We struggle when people go on leave and we often have to call in locums to help us out, so to have two extra junior doctors will alleviate that pressure.
“Not only will it be positive in terms of delivering medical services, we also hope having that introduction to the region will inspire young doctors to return and continue to work in country South Australia.”
The increase in rural intern numbers exceeds the State Government’s pre-election commitment to double the number of medical interns in country South Australia.
Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade said the $20m Rural Health Workforce Strategy will aim to “reverse damage” to the health care system under the former government.
“The increase in rural interns will support pathways for both rural generalists and GPs in areas where, traditionally, recruiting and retaining health practitioners has been a challenge,” Mr Wade said.
“By enabling more junior doctors to undergo training in country hospitals and GP practices, we hope they might remain in the country or perhaps consider becoming visiting specialists.”
The majority of interns in Mount Gambier will complete their rotations at the Mount Gambier Hospital and at a GP practice in Mount Gambier or the Riverland.
Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell welcomed the announcement yesterday.
“Regional hospitals and GP clinics provide an important training ground for interns – the newest members of South Australia’s health system,” Mr Bell said.
“It is important to offer interns not only training under the supervision of skilled health professionals, but also support for their wellbeing and life outside the hospital environment.
“Working with the local health advisory council and tapping into organisations such as the South East Young Professionals Group and the newly formed Facebook group Health Industry Professionals – South East SA, we can ensure these interns feel welcomed and supported in our community.
“Keeping GPs and specialists based in regional communities has always posed a challenge and giving interns a supported and positive experience while undergoing their training could influence their decision to return to Mount Gambier on a long-term basis.”
The State Government has worked with the Commonwealth to secure the seven new intern positions, which are the result of a partnership between Country Health SA, the University of Adelaide and Flinders University.
After graduating from medicine at university, doctors in their first year of training are required to complete a range of clinical rotations over 12 months to progress to the next stage of their career.
The partnership and funding secures the additional intern positions for the years 2019 and 2020.
