Coronavirus Australia: Doctors call 40,000 ‘pandemic practitioners’ for COVID-19 fight

A group of 40,000 retired doctors, nurses, health professionals and students has been recruited to join in the fight against COVID-19.

Australia’s medical watchdog is mobilising more than 40,000 retired doctors, nurses, midwives and pharmacists back into the healthcare system to fight COVID-19.

The “pandemic practitioners” will be clearly marked by a flag next to their registration, distinguishing them from already working health professionals.

The Australia Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) emailed more than 40,000 practitioners on Thursday to notify them they have been added to a sub-register to come out of retirement and boost the national healthcare system as coronavirus takes hold.

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Medical school graduates are also applying for practitioner registration in large numbers and final-year medicine students are being canvassed about entering hospitals early, Nine Newspapers reported.

From next week, 4800 doctors, 13,000 nurses, 2400 midwives and 2200 pharmacists who were retired or had stopped practising in the past three years will be able to return to the healthcare system.

Other medical professional expected to join the virus-fighting “cavalry” will include physiotherapists and radiographers.

The “Dad’s Army” of retired professionals and their younger cohorts will either actively care for coronavirus patients in public hospitals, and cruise ship passengers and inmates in private hospitals.

Some will work in administrative jobs to free up already practising professionals into active roles.

University of Sydney medical students (above at a clinical emergency training scenario) have been asked to join the new COVID-19 fighting force.

Practitioners who were struck off, suspended or facing disciplinary action will not be eligible.

Recently retired doctors and nurses with critical care experience have already volunteered.

One former nurse told the Sydney Morning Herald, “If they need me, I’m coming back.

“This isn’t the sort of job you can ever leave behind.

“When your friends … are worried about their own health … I need to get in there with them.”

Struck-off or suspended practitioners won’t be considered for the battalion about to re-enter medical work.

Sydney UNSW and Newcastle universities have asked medical students to express interest in applying for jobs and the work would count towards their degree.

AHPRA chief executive Martin Fletcher said the aim was to get as many experienced and competent health practitioners back into the system quickly.

Similar schemes have taken place in the UK and New Zealand.

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