The Western Australian Government has announced a $75 million medical training program to ensure its hospitals are sufficiently staffed.

 

Western Australian Health Minister Kim Hames said the new $75 million program, to be spent over five years, would ensure sufficient doctors to staff new hospitals that are currently under construction, including the New Children’s, Fiona Stanley and Midland hospitals.

 

“This is an important investment in the future of our State.  In 2009-10, 238 junior doctors took up training places in our State’s public hospitals. This is set to increase to 310 by 2015-16.” Dr Hames said.

 

40% of the funding from the government will be allocated to rural and regional health training with a view to tempt doctors out of metropolitan areas and to “improve the safety, quality and cost-effectiveness of clinical training in the health system”.

 

Dr Hames said that by 2015 the funding will help provide an estimated additional 138 health professionals in WA; 94 doctors (new graduates and supervisors); and 44 clinical education and simulation training staff.