Queensland bolstered with largest junior doctor intake in state’s history

The largest intake of junior doctors in Queensland’s history is about to be deployed across the state, in a much-needed boost to the healthcare sector. SEE WHERE THEY’RE GOING

• Specialist to hit ground in Gladstone amid maternity crisis

The largest intake of junior doctors in Queensland’s history will be deployed across the state from next month in a much-needed boost to the healthcare sector.

The services of 834 medical interns will be enlisted in 20 facilities across the state, from Brisbane to Cairns and out west to Mount Isa — a jump of nearly 5 per cent on the state’s 2022 intake.

A further 200 paramedics will also support emergency care, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk spruiking the more than 1000 new frontline health workers as a boost to the “accessibility to healthcare in rural, regional and metropolitan hospitals”.

“The expertise and energy of these junior doctors will be of big benefit to the communities they will service,” she said.

“The 200 new paramedics and emergency medical dispatchers will also make a big difference in communities far and wide, as demand for these lifesaving services continues to grow.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the new staff would make a big difference. Picture: Shae Beplate

The record intake comes amid an additional recruitment push for health staff in the state and follows fierce backlash for the reduction of maternity services in regional Queensland.

Earlier this month, The Courier-Mail revealed pregnant women in Central Queensland were demanding elective C-sections to avoid the 100km bypass from Gladstone to Rockhampton due to staffing constraints.

Then Acting Premier Steven Miles announced four newly recruited obstetricians were due to provide reinforcements to the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service by mid-year.

In the wake of the maternity crisis revelations, Queensland Health Director-General Shaun Drummond lamented the workforce shortages across the board in an interview on ABC Radio, declaring “we don’t have the specialists to meet the demand right now”.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE WHERE THE INTERNS WILL GO

“We have a vacancy rate for doctors inside Brisbane of about 1.5 per cent,” he said.

“In rural and remote, it’s 15 per cent.”

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said the boost to ambulance numbers was critical. Picture: Richard Walker

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the 200 new paramedics to be announced on Monday was in addition to the 250 ambulance workers the Queensland Ambulance Service planned to recruit this year.

“More than 1.4 million ambulances were dispatched in 2022 alone so I know every person committed to helping their fellow Queenslander will be a most valued part of the Queensland Ambulance team,” she said.

More than 1.12 million triple-0 calls were made last year, which is a 10 per cent jump compared to the previous year.

Of the more than 3000 daily calls to QAS, about 1400 require emergency lights and sirens response for an immediate or life-threatening condition.

QAS commissioner Craig Emery said more than 540 paramedics completed their induction training last year and were now on the road across the state.

“This announcement means we can bring on even more frontline emergency service workers to help Queenslanders in need,” he said.

WHERE THE INTERNS ARE GOING:

Cairns Hospital 51

Rockhampton Hospital 36

Toowoomba Hospital 55

Gold Coast University Hospital 92

Mackay Base Hospital 38

Mater Hospital 16

Caboolture Hospital 17

Redcliffe Hospital 30

Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital 94

The Prince Charles Hospital 33

Logan Hospital 39

Princess Alexandra Hospital 89

Queen Elizabeth II 15

Redland Hospital 5

Mount Isa Hospital 5

Sunshine Coast University Hospital 72

Townsville University Hospital 80

Ipswich Hospital 35

Bundaberg Hospital 16

Hervey Bay Hospital 16