AMA/Rural Health West agreement to focus on rural doctor shortage

AMA (WA) and Rural Health West (RHW) have signed a new agreement which will enable the association to provide doctors to RHW for both short and long-term placement in areas of high priority in rural WA.

"Through this agreement, short-term placements allow the local practice doctor to have a holiday while at the same time ensuring the community continues to have medical care available," said AMA (WA) President Prof Geoff Dobb.

"The long term placements accommodate overseas trained doctors (OTDs) who indicate an interest in working in rural WA, but who may not be able to move around.

"Under this agreement these doctors will be directed to RHW to discuss the options available, thereby giving priority to areas of particularly high need – for both the local doctor and the community."

Where doctors are recruited to work in one of the priority areas, RHW will be involved in the clinical assessment and potential placement of the OTD while still overseas and will meet with him/her and family members on the first day of their orientation in WA.

AMA (WA) has sponsored about 1500 OTDs to work in Australia – many in rural WA – since establishing a formal arrangement with the WA Centre for Remote and Rural Medicine (WACRRM) in 1993. At that time WACRRM was established as a centre within the University of WA.

Earlier this year, WACRRM severed its ties to UWA and restructured to become an independent body, changing its name to Rural Health West. Former WA Health Minister Ian Taylor was appointed chairman and the CEO is Dr Felicity Jefferies.

"With no immediate end in sight to the chronic shortage of doctors in Australia – particularly in rural areas – many communities will be grateful for the outcomes achieved through the efforts of AMA (WA) and Rural Health West," said Prof Dobb.