Fed: Doctors fleeing the bush despite govt incentives

AAP General News (Australia)
12-20-2006
Fed: Doctors fleeing the bush despite govt incentives

A report says government incentives to encourage doctors to work in the bush are failing.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare labour force data indicates doctors are
fleeing regional and remote areas.

The data also shows more doctors and nurses are working in Australia than at the start
of the decade .. but doctors are working fewer hours.

The number of medical practitioners working in Australia rose nearly 14 per cent between
2000 and 2004 .. and nursing staff jumped 11 per cent between 1999 and 2004.

Nurses' working hours have gone up slightly .. but doctors are now holding down an
average 44 hour week compared to 45.5 hours in 2000.

The reduction in hours has resulted in an effective fall in the numbers of GPs available
.. from 102 per 100 thousand population in 2000 to 98 in 2004.

AAP RTV jb/sb/wf

KEYWORD: DOCTORS (CANBERRA)

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